After mention of using the art in public being foolish, Kasyomnite tries to disappear from the minds of the rest by drawing as little attention to himself as possible. I guess I should be more careful about using magic. How would I know they would react that badly? Magic is a fun and nice thing.
---
"I guess I'll go in, in case he is indeed a sorcerer." Kasyomnite comments and follow after Chaïa.
---
"Ah, Lhazare himself is playing. May we watch the master himself at work? That would be a wonderful opportunity." Kasyomnite inquires after looking over the participants in the games.
As they make their way over he tries to whisper to the others. "I guess that's our robed man."
Tucking the case of playing pieces the serving-man offered her under her arm, Chaïa let him lead the way. She paused at the entrance to the parlour as if to get a sense for the space, taking the opportunity to note the general thread of the guildmasters’ conversation across the quiet room. At Kasyomnite’s excited whisper, Chaïa gave a discreet nod, and wandered casually over to Lhazare’s table.
Stopping at a respectful distance that still offered a clear view of the game, Chaïa took in the situation on the board with a glance before asking quietly, “I beg your pardon, gentlemen, but might we have a word, if the moment is not critical? We’re not in a particular hurry, in any case; would you mind if we observe until a convenient interval in your game?”
Janus moves between Saeri and Lucretia, looking away from the entrance:"So, their musscle went to the brothel. Their brain is playing games. I suppose that leaves the elvish woman. If they are brawn and brain, what do you think her role is? And more importantly, where would it lead her."
"No matter if she's a sneaky type, she may be the careful one of the trio. Either of you ladies feeling observed?"
Janus moves between Saeri and Lucretia, looking away from the entrance:"So, their musscle went to the brothel. Their brain is playing games. I suppose that leaves the elvish woman. If they are brawn and brain, what do you think her role is? And more importantly, where would it lead her."
[dice=Perception to see if someone is watching US]1d20+4
"No matter if she's a sneaky type, she may be the careful one of the trio. Either of you ladies feeling observed?"
Tucking the case of playing pieces the serving-man offered her under her arm, Chaïa let him lead the way. She paused at the entrance to the parlour as if to get a sense for the space, taking the opportunity to note the general thread of the guildmasters’ conversation across the quiet room. At Kasyomnite’s excited whisper, Chaïa gave a discreet nod, and wandered casually over to Lhazare’s table.
Stopping at a respectful distance that still offered a clear view of the game, Chaïa took in the situation on the board with a glance before asking quietly, “I beg your pardon, gentlemen, but might we have a word, if the moment is not critical? We’re not in a particular hurry, in any case; would you mind if we observe until a convenient interval in your game?”
The robed man's eyes went to Chaïa, then the case of pieces she held. He turned back to the board without comment.
"So long as you don't disturb proceedings, you are very welcome to observe," Lhazare said in a soft voice.
And Saeri... patiently waited outside, seeing no need to meddle and distract the wizard with another new figure to pay attention too. Broth, too many cooks, and the spoilage thereof. Also, her unlucky reading suggested that heading in would have made things much worse, and she paid attention whenever the cards answered with something particularly apt.
Haytham quietly followed the others inside, his eyes and ears open. It took more than a little willpower not to engage in a game but his mission here wasn't pleasure, and besides, if someone wanted to play a priest of the Red they need only ask.
"Oh I do believe I felt a bit checked-out earlier." Lu winks at Janus. With a quick chuckle she straightened up and glanced at the nearby alleys and streets. "Zough no elven women, from what I can tell. But I suppose a trapfinder is almost mandatory when searching old tombs. Hmm; fleet footed and swift hands, maybe a gambling den? But much seedier zen zis one!"
Chaïa found the robed man’s apparent lack of interest in who the strangers accosting him were surprising, but she refused to be fazed or to simply play the game the way he wanted it.
“That’s most gracious of you,” she told Lhazare, her head dipping in acknowledgement of her host as she pulled a chair closer.
Not wanting to waste time if this was the wrong person after all, Chaïa briskly decided to take a chance, glad that the cautious fortuneteller outside was spared the sight. Turning easily to the blue-robed creature as she seated herself gracefully, Chaïa remarked off-hand, “Auric sends his greetings, by the by. He was in a rush when we met him, but he did suggest that you would be the better person to consult about our little scheme. It’s a shame Tirra’s not here either, but you know how she is. What does that girl get up to? But I’m taking you away from your game. Join us at our own table later?”
With that, Chaïa drew herself up straight, folding her hands together with the tips of her fingers just in front of her mouth, as if to suggest at once both fascination in the game and contrite quiet after her burst of gossip.
Janus blushes very slightly on Lucrecia's comment, but smiles, then straightens himself as well: "My thoughts exactly, Lucretia. They're most likely to have brought someone capable of dealing with traps. Now, of course it could be they're just enjoying themselves for a day, and in that case, we could probably find her in a gambling den. Or, possible, she is gathering information or gathering supplies, herself. I think we should hit some of the more shady places tonight, see if we run into her to get an idea about her. If we're lucky, great. If not, we get to enjoy a couple drinks...my treat."
Kasyomnite busies himself studying the robed man to figure out if he was a worker of some art or worked under divine guidance as well as anything else he might learn.
Not wanting to waste time if this was the wrong person after all, Chaïa briskly decided to take a chance, glad that the cautious fortuneteller outside was spared the sight. Turning easily to the blue-robed creature as she seated herself gracefully, Chaïa remarked off-hand, “Auric sends his greetings, by the by. He was in a rush when we met him, but he did suggest that you would be the better person to consult about our little scheme. It’s a shame Tirra’s not here either, but you know how she is. What does that girl get up to? But I’m taking you away from your game. Join us at our own table later?”
The robed man slowly, deliberately looked up from the game and into Chaïa's eyes. He had a slightly distracted mien, his thoughts still on the board.
"My engagements permit a second match this morn," he said. "But you to have me at a disadvantage, madame. I'm hight Khellek, and you would be?"
As he spoke, Kas noticed a silver ring on Khellek's finger bearing an eight-pointed star.
“Chaïa Pomala, of Evereska,” she said quietly, resisting the urge to add her clerical titles. Immensely proud of them as she was, this was not the place, and why reveal any more than she had to? She held the man’s gaze for a few moments, restraining her excitement at having found another one of her group’s quarry. Got you! So far he seemed like someone she could talk to, but his calm appraisal was unnerving, and Chaïa was glad that his distraction softened the impact of his attention. “I am interrupting you,” she said, turning her eyes back to the board, “and I’ve imposed enough on our host’s patience. Please excuse me – I’ll await your convenience.”
Bobbing up from her seat, Chaïa offered her apologetic acknowledgements to Lhazare again, and then, catching the eyes of Kasyomnite and Haytham in turn, strolled off towards a table somewhere between Khellek’s and the guildmasters’ at the other side of the room, far enough to support the illusion of everyone’s privacy, but close enough that it wouldn’t take too much effort to catch the Waterdhavian’s conversation especially. She started setting up the board, thinking ahead as to how they might come to mutually beneficial terms.
"Oh zat does sound nice." Lu replies cheerfully. Free drinks were never wrong. Especially when it was for a job; getting paid to drink was heaven! Though all of their company didn't seem to quite look forward to it - the seer hadn't said a word since they arrived at this place. "Something bothering you?" Lu asked carefully. After all, if the one whom divined the future seemed bothered, it would be wise to take heed!
Lhazare and Khellek enjoyed a prolonged game, punctuated by frequent discussion of the philosophy behind the rules, the pieces, and their metaphysical significance. Lhazare frequently brought in the names of sages, the more obscure the better, but Khellek held his own with ease. At a few points, he politely corrected his opponent on a sage's home and once made a distinction between two who shared a name which Lhazare seemed unaware of.
Then their game concluded and the men congratulated each other. Khellek made his way to Chaïa's table.
"I must apologize for the delay. Master Lhazare's skill demanded a lengthy game. Shall we?" Khellek seated himself and arrayed his pieces with care.
“It’s no trouble,” Chaïa demurred, as Khellek set up his pieces. “I’m afraid I won’t offer half of Lhazare’s sport – only child who grew up with her nose in storybooks, and others, rather than games, you see. The risks of being born to a family of mages. Still, it will give us something to do while we talk.”
Pushing forward a pawn on the middle board, she continued, “I’ll be brief. My associates and I” “have heard, in making our own preparations, that you and your companions are likely to be seeking the same thing, an unlooted tomb in the Forlorn Hills about which some new information has recently come to light. We thought we would see if we could come to some sort of arrangement and avoid any unpleasant misunderstandings. To be frank, we are more interested in the archaeological value of the tomb – inscriptions, context, anything that can tell us more about who the people were who used it than … shall we say, where the contents quite go after they have been properly catalogued? Might it be possible to come to a mutually beneficial agreement about sharing at least the knowledge to be gleaned from the place quite even-handedly, no matter who finds the tomb first?”
"Disinterested scholarship? History for its own sake?" Khellek smiled as he made his own move. "I don't think I've heard that one before. Say I know of such a tomb. Why should we share and risk your looting it first? Or have you use us to set quiet the dangerous wards and then fall on us unawares?"
"I mean no disrespect," he said. "But you and yours are unknown to me. You ask far more trust than any reasonable person would give. I have lives in my trust."
“More interested, not exclusively interested,” Chaïa stressed, grinning slightly to acknowledge the point. A couple of turns passed as the two parried verbally and she gathered her thoughts to meet the man’s objection.
“We both have others to look after,” she continued. It wasn’t much of an exaggeration. Throwing magic around or not, if they managed to earn a polite invitation to leave a brothel in a matter of minutes, they need help, whatever the explanation. “At least we’ve been this honest about our intentions. We didn’t press the advantage of surprise. Suppose we met outside the tomb, or, goddesses forbid, after one of us had already opened it. That would make things even more delicate, wouldn’t it? I don’t think it’s quite reasonable to expect either of us to give up before the tomb has even been found. So perhaps the question becomes, what conditions would make the risks of cooperation acceptable? Surely some more eyes, even not entirely trustworthy ones, to … check for wards would be useful.”
Her delicate fingers rested pointedly on her playing piece before her next move. “Or suppose,” Chaïa offered, aware that such a concession might end the negotiations, “we at least come to a gentleperson’s agreement. Whoever finds the tomb first, informs the other at some fair interval after they’ve completed their explorations, and tries not to utterly destroy inscriptions and other evidence. For what it’s worth, I would also gladly offer whatever lore I might be able to recall, from Daggerford. On the other hand, if we find the tomb first, we might even find something that needs help finding a new home. No tense confrontations in situ, minimal knowledge lost to history, under the circumstances.”
Khellek considered as he made his next move.
"For us to meet in the field would prove a dilemma. Little good comes from people of our calling coming on each other unexpected, blood rushing and spells at the ready. A simple misunderstanding and some poor soul spends the next month as a chamber pot, or worse."
The blue-robed wizard sat silent for a moment, his fingers in a steeple, "A man's word is his bond and we are only as good as the words we swear. But when a man's oath hangs on his conscience alone, all feel the temptation to break it. Say your company and mine on holy ground and swear our oaths before a priest who invokes the Watching Gods to witness? Then to break our words tempts the wrath of the Powers. Would that be acceptable to you?"
"Well, I checked to see how this was going to go... and drew the Idiot." Saeri answered mildly. "This tends to have two meanings in cases like this - it's either a bad idea for reasons outside of one's control, or somebody is going to make a mistake at some point. Of course..." here, her mouth twitched slightly, "...it's difficult to predict the severity of a situation from the cards. What you think you read is not always what happens, and sometimes the very act of responding to them is enough to change the future in ways that prevent the initial problem from occurring. Still, 'twas not a good sign, and I think it would certainly be better to remain cautious."
The blue-robed wizard sat silent for a moment, his fingers in a steeple, "A man's word is his bond and we are only as good as the words we swear. But when a man's oath hangs on his conscience alone, all feel the temptation to break it. Say your company and mine on holy ground and swear our oaths before a priest who invokes the Watching Gods to witness? Then to break our words tempts the wrath of the Powers. Would that be acceptable to you?"
As the conversation continued on a civilized level, Chaïa relaxed somewhat, and even began to enjoy the game. “Of course. What did you have in mind? I imagine both our companies might wish to discuss the details amongst ourselves, before we meet to swear our oaths, but the broad outlines shouldn’t be too troublesome, and then we could settle the last provisions at the temple.”
"Ah." Lu nodded. Bad omens were bad. But they were still better, usually, then bad things happening right now. Also, it doesn't sound like thinking too much about it will help. "Let's hope ze idiot is zeir mage zen!"
As the conversation continued on a civilized level, Chaïa relaxed somewhat, and even began to enjoy the game. “Of course. What did you have in mind? I imagine both our companies might wish to discuss the details amongst ourselves, before we meet to swear our oaths, but the broad outlines shouldn’t be too troublesome, and then we could settle the last provisions at the temple.”
"That's reasonable," Khellek said, moving another piece. "I propose just as you said, we swear that the first of us to find an untouched tomb is obligated to leave notice with the witness of our oath within a tenday and we make efforts not to damage inscriptions and such as may be present. We also then share what we have learned at an acceptable time. Say the same as when notice is left?"
“Fair enough,” Chaïa nodded. “Do you have a time and priest in mind for taking the bond upon us? Other than that, I suppose we just have our game to play, at the moment. Unless something else has occurred to you, gentlemen, that ought to be addressed immediately?” Her gaze flickered briefly from her last move on the board to her companions.
“Fair enough,” Chaïa nodded. “Do you have a time and priest in mind for taking the bond upon us? Other than that, I suppose we just have our game to play, at the moment. Unless something else has occurred to you, gentlemen, that ought to be addressed immediately?” Her gaze flickered briefly from her last move on the board to her companions.
"My company would prefer the Morninglord's faithful," Khellek said. "We normally use them for such arrangements."
Janus nods: "The idiot, it was...but reversed. You claimed it to mean the clever feigning of idiocy, not revealing all. Once reason I decided to stay out here - either way, do you have any thoughts about the elf? And would you like to accompany us when we visit some of the more shady places for drinks, tonight, hoping to find her? I understand if that's not your thing...", he repeats his invitation in a neutral way, seemingly not having a preferred answer.
More is better. An extra pair of eyes to watch out, and a extra person if there's trouble. But then, effectively having a date with Lu would not be all that bad, either...
"My company would prefer the Morninglord's faithful," Khellek said. "We normally use them for such arrangements."
“For new beginnings. I’m sure the Daughter of the Night Skies would not object, under the circumstances, and the One and the Three would positively approve. In the morning, then, after you’ve had a chance to meet with your partners?”
"My company would prefer the Morninglord's faithful," Khellek said. "We normally use them for such arrangements."“For new beginnings. I’m sure the Daughter of the Night Skies would not object, under the circumstances, and the One and the Three would positively approve. In the morning, then, after you’ve had a chance to meet with your partners?”
"The morning it is, right after the prayers," Khellek agreed.
Saeri's mouth twitched upward in amusement. "I'm glad someone was paying attention." she said. "Indeed, drawing the Idiot again here, when it was set out as the beginning of our journey, is as sure a sign as the cards ever give that this is what it referred to. As for the drinks, I suppose I can come along. I used to perform a bit in taverns and the like before settling down to a more permanent position. People are often much freer with their words when they think they're getting a drink from a friend."
The negotiations completed, the two wizards turned more of their attention to the game. For the next few turns, Chaïa thought she was holding her own, only to realize too late that she hadn’t paid enough attention to what was going on on the Underdark board. After that, it was only a matter of time, as Khellek’s strategy worked remorselessly to its conclusion. When she could count the moves to the inevitable end, Chaïa tipped over her king with a rueful chuckle and rose to shake hands with her opponent. “That should serve to keep me humble. It was a pleasure doing business in such a civilized way. Until tomorrow, sir – I won’t keep you longer, and good luck.”
With that, she calmly gathered up her playing pieces, wondering what the others outside would make of the upshot. Closing up the pieces’ case with a quiet snap and a flourish, to Kasyomnite and Haytham she murmured, “Well, I suppose we have much to prepare for.”
Haytham watched the exchange impassively, not saying a word. A few times, as Chaia moves a piece he frowned slightly before returning to his flat affectation. The Red Priest shared a look with Khellek before the final moves were made, as if to say, "I saw that, and you saw that, and I won't be near as easy."
As Chaia finished Haytham moved into step by her side, "He's wily, and skilled, though I have suspicions about his patience. Pressed he would be sloppy, but very dangerous for it." He rubbed his morning's stubble with red gauntlet-clad hand, "At least, that would be my estimate as a servant of the Knight. From what I've gathered of his acquaintance this morning, the man is likely to bludgeon through problems. Which leaves the last known member of their party. I'll bet that she's the most dangerous in a pinch and the best at thinking on her feet. Any successful group requires all three components to have any sort of longevity in this business."
Khellek was gracious in his victory, complementing Chaïa on a well-executed gambit of her own before letting her go.
As Chaia finished Haytham moved into step by her side, "He's wily, and skilled, though I have suspicions about his patience. Pressed he would be sloppy, but very dangerous for it." He rubbed his morning's stubble with red gauntlet-clad hand, "At least, that would be my estimate as a servant of the Knight. From what I've gathered of his acquaintance this morning, the man is likely to bludgeon through problems. Which leaves the last known member of their party. I'll bet that she's the most dangerous in a pinch and the best at thinking on her feet. Any successful group requires all three components to have any sort of longevity in this business."
“Really? I thought he was quite nice, for someone confronted with strangers insinuating they knew so much about his company,” Chaïa said, her eyes wide. After a few moments’ thought, though, she remembered Khellek’s comment about chamberpots. Vindictive, then, and with a rather crude imagination. And if the last of them is even sharper… As they stepped through the doors into the open air, Chaïa laughed, with a hint of nervousness, “I’m sorry you two had to sit through that, watching two old wizards glaring at each other across a dragonchess board! Hopefully it won’t ever come to anything worse!”
“Though next time,” she added, as she remembered the meeting at Delfin’s tower, “I think I should leave sparring through games to you.” Turning with a smile to where the others were waiting, Chaïa announced, “Well, we’ve some news…”
Haytham gave a wan smile, "It is the place of the clergy of the Lady of the Lanceboard to advise, and to watch. We're strategists and generals, not captains of the cavalry or elite soldiers. The Lanceboard teaches us to try to play things carefully and use the most efficient methods to win." The priest turned his piercing eyes on Chaia, "It was good to learn about my foe while you engaged him. He knows you now and you know him, but I'm still an unknown quantity. He can guess at my abilities and those of our comrades, but only guess. The less we reveal the better. If he's as clever as he thinks he is then he'll be working on a similar tack. Also, stop leading with your armsmen like that, leaves too many openings. That's where he got you."
Saeri simply listened as the others came outside. "No need to keep us waiting." she said with a faint smile. It was usually best to come out and say things, rather than implying what you knew - good communication was important, especially when dealing with issues like this one. After all, who knew what they might be dealing with in the future...?
Yellowknife's company resolved to seek Tirra in Daggerford's bars. After checking the Lady Luck, a lovely repurposed warehouse that avoided most of the typical brawling and had lovely cheese and salted nuts, and the River Shining. There they found a cool welcome among the well-off, sedate patrons and nothing resembling an adventurer in sight.
This left them with the Happy Cow, which was a fine place until the Duke died. Since it's become Daggerford's roughest, crudest tavern. Sawdust, some of it suspiciously wet, covered the floor. Dirty miners and down on their luck farmers conversed loudly with frequent oaths. A fighting pit, broken through the floor boards just last year, had more rude patrons about it watching and betting on a cockfight. Others diced. Several sat passed out, one with a cut purse hanging open and most looking like they'd come on the wrong end of a fight.
A smaller knot gathered around a wooden target, watching a half-elven woman hurl a knife dead into the center. Half those about her shouted their dismay that a wench had bested one of their own. Again.
Chaïa was grateful that Daggerford wasn’t too large a town as the group continued their search, and she took the time to fill the others in on the way and between looking in at various bars, explaining, “The wizard’s name is Khellek, he’s clever, and probably more dangerous than he looks. We chatted, reasonably civilly for people competing for the same prize, and were honest, though not particularly forthcoming on either side about how we came to be interested in the same tomb. We weren’t able to come to terms for sharing the exploration, but were able to agree that whoever finds the tomb first should not be harassed or ambushed, and should in turn not completely destroy the context, should share at least a description of their findings, and give the other group fair notice once their own explorations were done. We’re all supposed to meet tomorrow morning to swear to it on oath at the temple of Lathander, after the morning prayers. After that, all we can really hope is that we get there first.”
Chaïa cut her explanations short as the Company trooped into the Happy Cow, to the wizard’s dismay even less prepossessing than its name had given her cause to hope. Taking in the signs of violence, the palpable crudity of the proceedings, Chaïa very nearly turned on her heel to flee. Once in a day was quite enough. Then again, someone had to keep an eye on the young ones especially, though she hoped the exuberant Lucrecia and Janus might be able to navigate a place like this on sheer enthusiasm. Then again, she took one look at the knife-throwing contest and declared to no one in particular, quietly but firmly, “No, I think I’m decidedly not the person for that.”
Saeri nodded slightly. She was really only good with throwing cards, and despite her excellent flicking motions, she wasn't particularly confident in her ability to throw anything else. Besides, she... didn't really enjoy places like this, nor how the men inside often treated women. And while she could defend herself, it would be better for all of them if she simply didn't make a scene in the first place. "I'll be out here in case you need help." she murmured.
"Whoever finds it first, wins? Now, I'm not sure what info they have, but did you consider that they may know the tombs location? Or have some general idea of it's location that we still lack?"
Janus shakes his head: "This is not simply about a paid job for an old wizard. Too much may be at stake here. If there is even a remote chance I may learn about what jappened to my sister...I will not stand by idly and watch, simply because they arrived first. Nor let them retrieve objects that could bring her back. I was not with you in the playing house, so he won't expect me to be at the temple. Which is good, because I will not swear anything of the sort proposed by them. I will be unbound by any such oaths. If you are to swear on behalf of your associates, consider me a free agent that happens to pool his resources with the lot of you, someone you don't have sway over. And honestly, with something potentially this important, not even Yellowknife could hold me back."
Janus had fully expected the harrower to step forward. Throwing things was her thing, as far as he learned. Not only that, she intended to step outside. As a female, alone, waiting in front of the worst drinking den of the area. Did she have reasons to not be here?
Janus looked over to the others, for clues, but quickly dismissed any negative thoughts.
Instead, he approached the knot with the half-elven woman, smiling:"This seems like an amusing pass-time. With throws like this, I doubt I am able to beat you, but I'm willing to pay a participants fee for the privilege of witnessing your technique first-hand, so that I may learn from you. What do you say, Lady, are you up for another match, or is your purse already filled?"
The half-elf smiled at Janus.
"I've got a wizard's purse," she said. "There's always room for coin inside." She collected her knives from the target and checked the blades of each in turn.
"Simple game," she began, explaining the rules. "I'll go first." The half-elf threw five knives in quick succession, three of them striking dead center of the target.
Chaïa was surprised by Janus’ outburst after she had finished outlining the meeting with Khellek, but, hardly knowing the details of the lives of Delfin’s many associates, decided that taking a few moments to try to find a tactful approach and catch the young man later would be best. Still, frustration roiled in her thoughts, Goddesses help us! What leverage do you think we have, child? A name is a pittance and a poor bluff with which to fish for more knowledge, and apart the aid we might offer, what interest are we to them? And our task is to preserve the tomb’s lore – not squabble over the possessions of the dead. Undisturbed, inscriptions rarely go walking. She made a mental note to herself never to lead the man within fifty miles of Evereska, to save the tomb guardians their trouble.
Noticing Saeri’s hesitation, she asked gently, “Are you sure? I’m afraid it’s hardly been an exciting day for you so far, while we lunatics stir up trouble.”
As she spotted the poor creature with their purse having been slit as good as in the open, Chaïa wondered how much safer the fortuneteller would be on her own outside such a place, if its cutpurses braved the rowdy crowd. Then again, she didn’t think, and didn’t want to suggest, that Saeri couldn’t take care of herself. Exercising her tact, after a moment, Chaïa offered, “What about if you did a reading? Having something to do might get people to leave us alone, and then again in a place like this I’m sure there are many who would appreciate a glimpse into what their luck holds in store. Perhaps over a glass of wine, assuming it rises so far above vinegar here?”
A rueful grin twitched at the corner of her mouth.
Janus steps up, trying to mimic the way she was holding the knifes.
"Ha, Beginners Luck! But this is fun." Don't show off...let her feel superior...
"Oh well, that barely hit the board."
"And I can't win any more...but still, I think I learned something-" Good, no point in being prideful about this...
Fetching the knives again, 3 of which stick together right at the center, Janus offers them to her with a very casual, short bow.
"Yes, I definitely learned. I come up short one point, but that means I did better than I thought I would. I haven't seen you around here - are you here with company? If not, why not join my friend and me for a horn of what passes for wine around here when your throat becomes dry?", he open-handedly gestures towards Lu sitting next to his empty chair.
"Wizards are always more dangerous zen zey look. But zat's because zey all look so silly. Zose pointed hats? Pff!" Lu scoffs. One of the better things about not having gotten a good glance at the wizard in question was that she could let her imagination run wild and assign him some really silly outfit. Yes! An even bigger hat! Mwahaha! As they search trough town Lu does her best to scrub her grin away, none of the others seemed to find the situation half as amusing least of all Janus. "But maybe you should take ze oath at Tempus temple instead? I'm sure he'd have oversight with a little bit of oathbreaking for a good cause and a rumble noh?"
Inside the seedy place her smile quickly returned. Now this was more like her sort of place! The stench in the air; The smell of the gore! And other things. I bet no-one would mind if you stabbed someone in here... When the company went separate ways Lu made a beeline for the barkeep. Weaselling her way past any obstructions she leans in on the desk and orders the barkeep - "Two - make zat zree ale. And who's zat mut soaking up all ze easy gold in here?" - and slammed down a handful of silver; a most generous sum for few drinks.
Then, hopefully a bit more knowledgable about their quarry, she grabs her mugs and heads over to watch Janus throw some knives.
Saeri smiled slightly at Chaia's concern. "I don't live my life purely for excitement. Perhaps more to the point, the first trial card of my reading suggested an inability to see value, and I said that it would be best to keep an eye on our surroundings. I suspect we are not past that card yet... and certainly, I don't think it's going to hurt anything." Of course, she did enjoy a little excitement - but her gut said there'd be plenty more of that soon enough.
“You don’t? But what else is there?” Chaïa asked flippantly. She was able to maintain the façade for a couple of heartbeats before the priestess inside her added, though still lightly, “Well, apart from love and beauty, kindness, and knowledge…”
As the others made themselves at home with unnerving rapidity, she said, still grinning, “Anyway, someone’s got to keep an eye on the younger ones before they do anything too too reckless. If something does come up here, do let us know, will you?”
With that, she entered the tavern, planning to acquire a glass of wine before – since Lucrecia seemed to have getting the gossip well in hand – settling quietly where she could observe the activities around the place, preferably away from any of the floor’s dubious sticky patches.
Inside the seedy place her smile quickly returned. Now this was more like her sort of place! The stench in the air; The smell of the gore! And other things. I bet no-one would mind if you stabbed someone in here... When the company went separate ways Lu made a beeline for the barkeep. Weaselling her way past any obstructions she leans in on the desk and orders the barkeep - "Two - make zat zree ale. And who's zat mut soaking up all ze easy gold in here?" - and slammed down a handful of silver; a most generous sum for few drinks.
"All the highcoin's with the lass of the knives and her champion friend," the halfling proprietor told Lucrecia before she took her leave.