Colt enters the room taciturn as always. He bows just enough to show proper respect without standing out, and as always uses as few words as possible. "Water", he whispers when asked what he wishes to drink. He keeps his eyes down and seems to be concentrating on his meal, but his light grey eyes, and sharp ears take in all. He quietly finds his more boisterous companions antics a bit humorous, but you would never know from his stony countenance.
He is a bit surprised that the holy servant of Sarenrae casting spells obviously in the presence of the Sun God-Emperor, but since it seemed to cause no trouble he returned to his meal...waiting...
Casfi'azair sighs and smiles slightly at Sha'llae, noticing her clear disdain for the emperor. He, too, wishes he could say more. As Sha'llae lays in his lap and nibbles his ears, he tenses up. His face contorts slightly, and the fact that Emilia is also shooting lustful looks, as well as winks and kisses, doesn't help. Casfi'azair lifts his glass and shakes it a bit, "May I have some water please?" He asks in a growingly shaky tone of voice, "On second thought, make it wine. STRONG wine... perhaps even a stout ale!"
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The next course is something that looks like it used to be a largish rodent (think guinea pig) that has been stuffed with oranges and roasted.
Sha'llae smiles at him and beckons a server over. The young man brings over a fine glass of some extremely strong honey wine.
"Careful sweetie, this drink would knock a dwarf flat in a few seconds. She chuckles a bit. "Who's your friend over there? And please tell me she's not joining us tonight." The elf smiles and kisses Casfi passionately, not really caring that they are in public. "Why have that honey wine when you can have my kisses?" She asks him.
Casfi'azair attempts to speak, but is muffled by Sha'llae's kissing. He manages to pull away for a moment and sighs, "She's just a companion! I--ugh... can I have my drink please? He does not take a sip, but instead gulps down the honey wine. "Mmmm.... Tastes... strong." Casfi'azair then looks at the rather disgusting dish they have just been served. He grimaces at the roasted rodent.
Rolling fortitude check to determine whether Casfi'azair is affected by chugging down his honey wine:
Rolling willpower check to determine whether Casfi'azair finds the roasted rodent disgusting enough to warrant puking or not:
*blushes*
Cerdyn looked cautiously at the burnt rodent, deciding that while it wasn't to her tastes and stuffed it into her sack, maybe it would be better appreciated among the poor.
Cer noticed some of her other caravaneers enjoying the company of whores, (this would be her interpretation of the situation) something that went against her whole sense of existance, with her being celebate and all. Though she diapproved she understood that forcing her beliefs of celebacy onto other was hardly fair.
Leaf loosens up a little, passes off the moment of disgust as just being a little ill from the heat, if anyone asks. bluff:1d20+2
She tries some of the dishes, taking a liking to anything spicy.
** spoiler omitted **
"I'm just taking taking in the scenery, Leaf. I am already quite pleased to be here, in the company of such interesting companions!" As the entree arrives, she smiles delightedly. "That looks wonderful! I do wish I knew anything about cooking..." She takes the proffered piece of meat from the Gnome with a mild look of relief, as she hadn't quite figured out how to approach the roasted creature. She dips her head to pull the piece of meat from the gnomes hand with a graceful snake-like motion, and her eyes smile thankfully into the monk's own as she does so.
She chews the meat thoughtfully and her eyes flutter with delight. The Tiefling seems to almost purr at the sensation and flavors offered to her, and briefly forgets she was asked a question. "I think I'll have to thank the chef myself, if I get the chance. Emilia says, happily. "Oh, I'm sorry Leaf. Actually, I think it's excellent, but I've always had strange tastes.
"Come on love, I know it looks rather terrifying, but it's really quite good. She tells him. "Just one bite love, you don't want to offend our host. She pauses and then begins speaking in elvish.
"Vaelina, air'm bry sar shar. Por o shor sai orael ei tal shai sol ci air kyr? Vaeri, Ai ply's shor sai mi o aezaeleraer jhyli. Ais o oreal cos, ci'jh jhojaelia cali o colaer. Ai ply's sol Ai tyr pai shaer sai jholi shoryr o. Ai cryn tal'm ei pastol thyr eil eisyndral eir caer, sher shi tal's jhaer cos cyrn shi sol sar." She looks at him, her eyes gentle and pleading. Ai eis olia shysol thys cos shaelari Ai caern o shyr shi tystol caesi. Eil o eilar baer tia caer maerai. The elven woman leans up and sucks on one of his eartips again.
Really, it's not that bad. And do you want to offend a man who thinks he is a god? Please, I don't wish to see you executed love. If you offend him, he'll likely have you killed. I don't think I could do well to live without you. I know that man's a damming fool and arrogant as hell, but we can't let him know we think that.
I am only working for him because I knew you would be coming here. And you always need my help sweetie
Emilia enjoys listening to leaf tirade, but quickly perks up as her ears hear the familiar musical tongue of the elves, taking in nuances of the words. She smiles as she considers the situation she's found herself in, and wonders how events will play out.
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As the roasted rodents are finished up the next meat course is brought in. Each person is given a small plate of live baby eels and a container of boiling oil. There are tongs, court members dig in eagerly plunging the live eels into the oil, then dipping them in a very hot sauce before eating them.
Emilia's eye brow raises at the screams of the burning young eels, but doesn't break her seemingly light and merry attitude. She deftly snaps the neck of the eels in her hands with subtle martial skill as she dips the eel quickly in the oil with her bare hands, disguising the merciful end to the creatures and counting on her high tolerance to heat to protect her in the process.
Bluff check:
"This is beginning to feel like home." The tiefling's broad smile does not betray her, but the young hellspawn is beginning to feel as if her statement isn't a complete deception.
Emilia shivers inside as she hears the words, and a particularly unpleasant memory if brought about by the shrieking of the eels. She summons her resolve to block out the memory and musters her discipline against the feelings it stirs in her.
Emilia growls softly and hisses back. "Like an animal. To survive, if I have to, and so will you. If you fall apart now, it may be you on the chopping block. Compassion for the poor creatures is to end their suffering, and make their sacrifice part of you. Don't let them go to waste." She snatches the eel from the gnomes hand and quickly ends it's suffering, quietly, subtly, and quickly eats it. She weaves the subtle spectacle into the punchline of a story, and also slips a hidden apology into it's end to the gnome. I am sorry, but it must be done. Keep yourself together, friend.
Bluff to deliver hidden message:
Bluff to pawn off the interchange as a story.
Stoic as always Colt shows neither pleasure nor distaste as he simply finishes each course in turn.
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One of the noble ladies notices that Leaf is uneasy about eating the live eels.
"It seems that our tiny friend has been outwitted by a fish, she's far to clumsy to catch even one. I would like to see her attempt combat, for she must be a very poor monk indeed. I am sure they keep her around only as dragon fodder." She says to her friends, loud enough for the several people, including Leaf, to hear. The other nobles around her laugh.
Casfi'azair finishes the rodent dish quickly, thanks in part to getting a little woozy from gulping down that pint of honey wine. It was decent enough, nothing like the exquisite culinary sensations of Elven cooking, though. The eel dish is served, and Casfi -- still in his slightly inebriated state -- is cognizant enough to feel disgusted at the prospect of boiling live eels to death. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and looked away from the writhing live eels, "I apologize, but... I seem to have gotten full! Yes, I think that delectable rodent was enough for me. Must watch my figure, you see. Yes."
Rolling bluff check:
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The same noble woman kept a keen eye on the other adventurers. Among the snakepit that the emperor called a court, she seemed to be one poison fanged viper.
"And of course, a stupid elf would not have any sensibilities when it comes to fine dining. He is even worse than the gnome. Really, I do not know why the emperor hired such incompetents, they cannot even kill an eel. At least the humans among them are strong willed. See dears, this is another example of human supremacy."She paused and looked right at Casfi'azair. "I am sure this elf doesn't even know who his mother is, or maybe the woman on his lap is his mother. A race that worships a fake whore goddess is amusing, not that there are any other gods but our emperor."
Sha'llae also pushed away the eels, as cold as she could be at times boiling baby creatures wasn't her idea of a good time.
"Shar ei shel os tar tys air, pastil shysia tar." She paused and eyed the noble lady as she insulted the gnome.
Then the woman let loose a spout of insults Sha'llae's eyes burned with hatred. It was not wise to anger a worshiper of the goddess of revenge. In court Sha'llae would remain calm. However it was likely things would end poorly for that woman.
*mast= tree litter
Casfi'aszair scowls at the woman, his fully green eyes narrowing in anger without blinking, "You should really watch your tongue. Despite all your wealth and so-called 'nobility,' those could never take place for your lack of manners and honor." Casfi'azair smirks in smug pleasure, anticipating the sheer pleasure of his stinging words to one who so rightly deserved them, "In fact. I'm quite sure that your own mother is nothing more than one of the old, withered whores wandering about in your streets, offering diseased pleasures with her gaping toothless mouth. Or perhaps not, because if your mother weren't so terrible at offering oral pleasures... you probably would not have been born."
perception
Colt continues to methodically eat, ready to spring into action if needed...and starting to get a little aggravated.
perception
Emilia wears a broad but tight-lipped and terrifying smile as she gazes at the noblewoman with a glimmer of dark hunger in her eyes. "I am glad my goddess amuses the nobility of the court. Perhaps the lady would like to accompany to my chambers when I retire for the evening and I could amuse her further?"
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The last of the eels are cleared away and finally dessert is brought. It is a sorbet made from mixed fruit and wine, and has been drizzled with honey. There is also a sampling of various nut, honey and pastry dishes including what looks like Baklava.
'Geez,' thought Cerdyn, 'will this feast ever, there's people starving outside and these few nobles get all they need and more.'
Though knowing she could hardly put the dessert in the bag, 'too messy,' she ate it, slowly.
Cer turned to Kujoe, "So what do you make of all this, a bit much, right?"
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"There are people outside dying of hunger and illness and we sit here and feast it isn't right, I have my suspicions of the emperor but we will see soon enough if we come to aid a good cause" Kujoe says to Cerdyn quietly enough that none else other than those with keen ears around him would be able to hear. Kujoe sits back in his chair and thinks he does not have any desert and will wait until the emperor or someone speaks until moving a budge.
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The Emperor stands and eyes the gathered heros, then he claps his hands and has his daughter brought forward. Gossip around the court is that she's the child of one of his concubines, an elf who ended up rather mysteriously dead a few weeks ago. The girl doesn't seem to be more than sixteen, and even that's being generous.
"Hear and listen, for your god speaks. My words are my will, and are law to be obeyed in deed and in heart." He began, as he spoke he sounded even more full of himself than he sounded on paper. "This is one of my children, a daughter of the sun. She is to travel to a neighbouring land, across the waters, to marry a man to whom I have given her in marriage. You are to protect her and the handmaids that travel with her, from all threats. You will depart tomorrow, and travel on imperial coin."
The princess in question looked less than pleased with her position, in fact she looked quite terrified about the whole thing.