"Course i'll deal you in. Desna must be smilin' on me." Hobbes says as he deals some cards to Keinara.
She smiles at Keinara, taking her hand. "There is one open spot left! Consider yourself invited!" In a lower tone so only Kei can hear, she answers back in a flat, low tone not seemingly her own. "I keep my temper when it suits my needs. It is important to know when to let the fires consume and when to let them destroy." After that she perks up again and looks at the half-orc. "I worship the Dawnflower. She is who brightens my day!" She smiles back at the half-orc as she goes to sit down by hobbes, attempting to drag Kei with her. "Look sis! I found us a tall angel to be friends with! She likes to play hide and seek, like us!"
Gruff makes his way over to Allie, carrying the water pan and carrot in his mouth, then sets it down carefully, sighs in relief, and lays to drink and eat his moist dinner.
Vesna stares cooly at the half-orc as he approaches to apologies. It's like he's being weighed fir judgement. "I suppose you couldn't know. No, I am not a fan of anything that must do with Irrisen. Though no one smart should be." She considers the man for a second. "That's a place far off from here. What do you know of it?"
Perhaps he's the reason I'm here.
Taken a bit by surprise, Kei frowns with intrigue at the Gnome's response.
I guess even the smallest of us have a trick or two. Though the change in her tone is a mystery to me. It appears there's more to this little one than meets the eye! she thought to herself, before being dragged away by the small, childlike humanoid.
Hey, I'm coming, I'm coming! she laughed, still eager to learn the game her new friend was playing.
As she arrived at the table, Keinara waved her right hand in a slightly shy manner, due to the embarrassment of being made a big deal out of.
Aww, you're so polite, but I'm no prettier than most here, and an Angel? Don't be silly Allie. I'm a simple girl just like you! she laughed.
An Angel? Was that literal I wonder? I'm more human than she is.....what an adorable character she is though! she thought to herself.
The grin does not leave his face. "Every demon remembers the hell it crawls out of."
"Silence... I like it." Erika smiled almost warmly. "So...what profession have you found yourself in...Silence?"
"Profession.... hmmm." His whiskers twitched slightly and his ears flattened on his head for a moment His tail froze as he pondered. "I am a traveler and hunter i suppose, I trap and gather pelts. Im a fair shot with a bow, but can handle myself in a fight I suppose." He shrugged his features returning to his normal jovial self. "I am in the proffesion of waking up each morning and living life?" He added hoping that was enough, in truth he never really thought about his travels and life in general to be a proffesion. He always felt people with proffessions had homes, he had a mule and a sense of wanderlust to see everything. His eyes darted to the card game and he watched it for a moment.
"and you new friend? what do you do yes yes?" He said with another feral grin
Percy nods to the pretty girl her sister has invited. Welcome to the game! she says with a broad smile. I'm not sure what I'm doing, but the atmosphere of learning is fun!
Beneath her cheer, Percy feels the drink really taking hold. [i]No bets, no bets[/b] she starts thinking to herself.
"Oh...uh... I'm a bit of traveler myself." She fumbles a bit, but smiles. "Nothing else for me. I'm a fair shot with a bow as well, care to test and see who's better?" She winks slyly and toys with the bow strapped to her back.
"I had planned on waiting till the competition tommorrow but i dont see why not.." He grinned his tail now just lightly swaying in his amusement. "I dont not think the owner of this fine establishment would prefer such a competition in his business yes yes? How do you propse we handle this?" He asked innocently. If his new friend was planning something mischeivious he was liable to not notice it.
Erika turns to the barkeep,"Excuse me, would there be a place nearby for my friend and I to practice our archery skills?" She flashes her most well meaning smile.
The barkeep thinks for a minute. "Well, the archery bouts will be held by the armory. They've got a couple targets. Or you could shoot at trees in the Border Wood!" He smiles jokingly.
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Rising from his corner table, as the tavern starts to get crowded, Hassan nods to Allie the Gnome, and heads outside. A few too many characters in here for his liking.
He walks for a bit, looking at the preparations for the Swallowtail Festival in the small Taldan town.
He seeks a quiet place and prostrates himself, bowing to the east where the Dawnflower sends her Gift every morning. For a few quiet moments, he makes his ablations in solace, as he has always done.
Wishing that the Festival might be to Her greater glory, he finishes rising and returning to the crowded tavern. Rather than stifling in the common room, the Qadirian man heads upstairs to his night's lodgings.
"It's alright. Just a friendly game. No betting this time since y'all learnin." A few hands pass by, Hobbes helping the girls along on what to play. It becomes obvious that he's playing bad hands that are easy to beat. "See? Easy right?"
Allie giggles at Kei as the game continues, putting down a tree of a kind made of 4s. "I'm only stating the truth! you seem to shine in a way different from gnomes. AND!!! How about THAT!" She pops them down on the table with glee. "Am I doing this right?" She looks intently at her remaining cards, peeking childishly at the others, trying to look as if she has anything good.
"You are. Yer a fast learner, aren'tcha?" Hobbes puts on a poker face as he feigns try-harding.
Erika looks to Silence, "So what do you think... archery? Or perhaps we should partake in a card game?" She smirks at the group gathered around with the cards.
His eyes not straying from the fellow Irrisani, "You could shoot fruit off each other's heads."
"The only card game i know my father taught me... Find the fish. Its for children though i think not liable to the sort of cards they are playing." The furred fellow began tilting his head to the side. "Is it fair to shoot with the lack of light outside im afraid that would give me the advantage perhaps would could try in the morning? yes yes?" He said still smiling. He would go find these targets if his new friend wanted to shoot, but he was feeling more gregarious than competitive at teh moment.
Finally turning around to face those engaged in a card game, "Actually that flower Goddess of your's intrigues me Miss Allie. What does she hold sway over aside from flowers and the morning?" Seeing as to how loud and excited the Fey lady could get he saw very little reason to get closer to her, let alone whisper, lest he risk getting grappled again.
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Hearing the barbarian ask the little gnome about Sarenrae, Hassan, on his way to the stairs, cut in abruptly.
"Sarenrae is the Goddess of the Sun. From her all things flow. Her Gift warms us, at Her will crops grow and we prosper. It is meet and right to follow Her faith above all others, my northern friend. I am happy to tell you more of the greatness of Her ways."
The eastern man's eyes are bright, almost wild, and he speaks with the reverential passion of a zealot.
He darts his eyes back and forth between Allie and Hassan as if to ask her is this correct? before turning and fully adressing the man. "Very well. Tell me more of this sun spirit if you may."
Allie nods, not looking at Neverhome. "It is as he says. Go with him, he will teach you the ways of The Dawnflower." Her tone is flat and low, more serious, strange to be coming from her. "I mustn't leave right now, I could win!" With that her voice is cheerful and warm again. She looks at her cards again and slightly turns her head, concentrating.
As Percy greets her, Kei smiles.
So you're the sister of this little one! She's quite a handful! she laughs.
As Allie continues with her compliment, Kei blushes a little, letting slip a slight Aww before commenting; I guess? My hair is abnormally shiny at times. Neither of my parents had this trait, so I guess I was just born with it.
She flicks her hand through her hair, still smiling, and turns to Hobbes.
Hit me!
Receiving one card from the Halfling, she throws down 4 aces and playfully says Woooo! as she raises her arm in the air to celebrate.
That's good right?
Zsestrian listen closely to Vashti, but as soon as he understands that she doesn't know anything, his expression darkens. "Oh, I...I... Sorry for taking your time". He manages a faint smile to the woman.
What do I do now? I was so sure she knew something, but now I'm back to the start... He thought while putting on the orange scarf.
But as demoralization started to crept inside him, sudden feelings of wonder mixed with utter terror burst into his head. A few seconds later, Crow had flew towards him and sat on his shoulder.
"What it is, Crow? Have you seen something strange?" The raven didn't answer, but stared at where he looked, some moments before, behind the bar. Following his gaze, Zsestrian thought that his familiar was eying the peculiar Catfolk.
Maybe he tried to eat him...
Dismissing that thought (the overgrown cat looked intimidating, but it was probably Crow that provoked him. Or her, Zsestrian still wasn't sure about the feline gender), the witch turned his attention to a nearby game of cards. One of the player, a red-headed gnome, seemed that was putting a great deal of concentration into it.
"Good Evening ladies!" Zsestrian greeted the two identical gnomes and the light blue-haired girl with a broad smile"and good evening to you, Mister" he looked at the name tag on the halfling coveralls "Hobbes, correct?".
Crow was not taking part in presentations, and instead, perched on the pale man shoulder, kept staring in front of himself with wide eyes. The bird , amidst the occasional croak, also whispered with a low tone some almost unintelligible words.
Percy nods at the big cat, seemingly unfased by his appearance. She doesn't even blink twice. She folds up her cards and sighs. The Fates weren't playing nice today.
After a moment she glances at the crow and says in Sylvan,
Crow tilt his head at the gnome, as for saying that he couldn't understand. The Raven stares for a moment at Percy with odd,glistening black eyes, and then decides to fly on her lap. He does a couple of little jumps to attract her attention, and then whispers at her
Zsestrian chuckle at his feathery companion: "I see you have found a new friend!". To the red haired-gnome "I didn't quite get what language you used before, but Crow only understands Common". He then adds "And don't worry, he doesn't bite! Well, he only bites me". Zsestrian gives a short laugh.
"Very well..." Erika sighs, but smiles and resumes her tea. She looks at the group playing the card game and laughs slightly, "Ahh it has been a while since I've played a game like that. " For a moment you notice a forlorn look pass over her features, but she quickly catches herself and looks at Silence. "Are you here for the festival tomorrow?"
The large felines eyes light up quite expresively. "Yes yes! I like the part when they let the flutterbyes go!" he said excitedly. For a moment a large furred pawlike hand reached out for flutterbyes not tere at the moment. "and the milk too, Im here for the milk yes yes." He added still grinning
Watching the catfolk react so excitedly brings a smile to Erika's face. She puts a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. "You do like milk don't you? Would you like another glass?" She motions to the barkeep for another tea and another milk. "I do not know many of your...uh... kind, but if they are all like you they must be a wonderful people."
Good evening to you too, there. Will you be jumping in on the next game? says Kei, as the boy/man greets her, the halfling and the other two girls with her.
Spacing out as the game ends, and wondering who won, Keinara couldn't help but take in what the bird, Gnome and boy said.
Stars behind the bar...wha?! I don't know what you guys mean. she says in common, out loud, absent mindedly.
She flicks her hand through her hair, still smiling, and turns to Hobbes.Hit me!
Receiving one card from the Halfling, she throws down 4 aces and playfully says Woooo! as she raises her arm in the air to celebrate.
That's good right?
"Of all the... Yea that's a great hand.." Hobbes puts down his hand as well. "Congrats, you won." Hobbes smiles. He then looks to Erika who looks as if she wants to play. "Let's try a different game so we can get more players. How bout it?"
Percy seems more perplexed that the bird understands only common than the fact that there are stars where they shouldn't be. How is it you forgot the language of the World? she whispers. The comment of stars behind the counter is received, by she restrains her curiosity, choosing to focus on this odd bird.
Vesna looks skeptically at the half-orc. "You crawled out of Irrisen? Not many do that. They're either running for their life at full speed or their bones get spit out. Or so I hear. I've never been there before." She shrugs and tries to change the subject.
"What exactly are they playing over there?" She half stands to peer at the cardplayers. "Some sort of game" She walks over with her wineglass, intent on watching the action. "What's the wager?"
Hobbes smiles and looks up at the exotic beauty as she walks up. "Right now? Nothin, zilch. Just playin for fun as I teach these beauties how to play. We can play a different game if you wanna join in?"
"Sure, why not?" She gives the halfling a sly smile. "Deal me in. What kind of game did you have in mind? I know King's in a Corner, Cupbearer, Queens and Princes, and...What's that other one dad taught me? Oh, Crazy Jester!"
"Ya know yer cards. Neva even heard of Crazy Jesta. Why don't we try that one?"
"it is possible they are wonderful... i would not know, I was raised by my foster father. He found me crying in an old hollowed tree. It would seem my mother had him me there and tried to lead a... lead a..." His ears flattened and his tail lashed wildly for a moment as Silence was Silent. A quick shrug of his shoulders almost imperceptible and he was back to normal. tail slowly inquisitive, ears up, and smiling.
"Dont feel bad," He began reaching out on patting her on the head. "You didnt know and it was long ago yes yes? I think that is why I travel so much, to see one of my kind someday." He finished with a self satisfied nod.
"I just have to remember the rules." She quirks her mouth to one side in thought. "Hang on, I think it's like this." She quickly explains the rules with playing cards of matching suits, but the silly Jester cards change it all around.
Vesna is a whirl of activity as she deals a hand. Holding reins over the rules, correcting wrong moves, and nodding over right ones, it's like she's holding court over the game. She chuckles at the turn of cards and smiles as one of the gnomes end up winning. "Very well done! Perhaps we owe you a drink."
Lyosha follows Vesna over to the card table musing along the way, "Never been? Did not know that Ja... That people like..." He pauses as he tries to recompose himself. "How were you given so much luck as to not be born in that accursed land?" He turns to the halfling as he finally gets the question to Vesna "Would it bother you if I watched? I have absolutely no idea what it is you're doing."
Vesna shrugs at Lyosha. "Fate, perhaps. Love, partially. Luck, almost certainly," she says cryptically. "But I promise I've never set foot in that godforsaken place."
" Oh, sure, I would be honored. Just tell me the rules and I'm in!"
Zsestrian said to the Aasimar. He then added"And don't mind too much what Crow says, he tells some strange things sometimes"
Meanwhile, the raven was staring at Percy with a perplexed look. Or he would, if ravens could give perplexed looks.
"Never known that language" he croaked.
For a long moment the bird stares into the gnome's eyes. Then, for a split-second, you could almost swear to see the shadow of the animal, projected on the floor, blurring and rearranging itself into something else.
The crow then whispers, with a calm and deep tone, one that surely a normal crow couldn't have
After that, everything goes back to normal, and the raven starts again to address, with his usual voice separated by croaks, both the Aasimar and the gnome.
"But yes! Stars behind counter! Booze get out of there!"
"Sure thing. Have a seat." Hobbes replies to Lyosha.
He gives a short bow to Hobbes before taking his seat.
Erika frowns and looks at the floor, "I...I'm sorry." The words stammer and her eyes remain averted. Feeling Silence's paw on her head she glances up for a moment and gives him a sad smile. "You're too kind. I don't know who my parents are either, so I feel your pain." She finishes her tea in a long drink and then looks up again. "We ought to stick together, ya know? How about you and I go to the festival together and see all the beautiful butterflies." She smiles warmly and puts her hand on his paw.