to Gax (in Skuld): "Clever bird! You are right not to trust people, but wrong to show it so openly to the untrustworthy."
Foxglove brings in the bows and arrows, getting Harad (the strongest) to demonstrate the strength.
"We claimed these bows from hobgoblin bandits. Where they bought or stole them I don't know, but these are proper weapons of war.
Well, the large ones anyway. The small ones are goblin bows - still deadly, but unless there's a halfling community here they are probably best used to train a new generation of customers for you."
Again to Gax: "Gax, you're an interesting character! If I ever come back, I'd like to hear about how you came to be here. I'll bring you some nuts too, unless you prefer something else. Goblin eyeballs? Maggots? Steak? "
Gax speaks to Foxglove in Skuld "You have no smell of winter on you. I prefer my eyes fresh."
Justus examines the bows ( ) "These look ( ) in pretty poor quality, even if they are war bows. I can give 240 gp each for the longbows. For the goblin bows ( ) "I can give you 15 gp each."[edited]
[edited]"Now that would be 1,965 gp all total. It just so happens that I have a +1 composite shortbow I can sell you for 2,375 gp. That's only 410 gp over what I can give you for the hobgoblin bows. I also have a finely crafted and detailed composite shortbow carved from darkwood. Very nice for a lady of spirit, and only 400 gp. I also have a masterwork composite shortbow for 375 gp. What strikes your fancy?"
To Gax "I'm not a winter girl - more of a summer nights girl actually. Long sunsets, fragrant flowers, lots of shadows and vegetation to slip away in..."
"While the enchanted bow is only 410 more than your offer, my own share of the loot is naturally a lot less. But let's have a look at the other two. The darkwood and details may well be worth the difference in price, but only if they shoot equally true and have the right pull strength. I'll have to test shoot them of course.
(bump?)
Justus puts the bow he is working on down on his work bench and rises. "Well, it will cost you an arrow to try the bow" He goes to a table between the two north windows, reaches under it and brings out an embroidered cloth bag. Untying the bag he draws out an excellent looking bow, intricately carved and of a black wood that seems to absorb the light. As he strings it you see that it is a composite bow. He picks up an arrow from the table and moves to the south window at the foot of the stairs. He looks out the window and says "Do you see that target on the tree across the road?" As foxglove looks out the window while standing behind him, she can see an old oak about 150 ft away ( ) but she can't distinguish any target. Justus draws back the bow and shoots. ( ) It hits the tree and now Foxglove can see that the arrow has hit a small green plank attached to the bark of the tree. He returns to the table and picks up another arrow. "Five cp and you can see for your self", as he offers her the bow and arrow.
Foxglove's jaw drops!
"..and that is the one without enchantment?"
I don't just need a bow, I need lessons
She walks over to Justus, puts a silver piece on the counter, picks up the bow, and flexes it two times to test the pull strength. Then without warning she grabs the arrow, spins around while drawing and stops the motion pointing the arrow at Alk for a short instant before lowering it.
"hmm.. yes, that could work.."
She then nonchalantly lets the arrow fly in the general direction of Justus' target - or at least tries to make it appear that way as she fires her trial shot.
As the string slaps her wrist she yelps and twitches, making the arrow go wide. She blushes a lovely shade of pink, then grinds her teeth and mumbles something about a second arrow.
The second shot at least hits the tree trunk.
"Well... this is why I prefer sneaking up real close. But if we run into monsters the size of a barn door this may yet be useful."
to Justus: "I'll take it. But I am some 15 years behind in my training. Is there an archery range where I can practice and maybe get some pointers?"
If ok with Alk and Justus, she will just grab the beautiful bow and leave them to sort out the rest of the transactions.
Foxglove goes outside to get more acquainted with her new bow. There are 8 quivers on Carrot from the hobgoblins with a total of 80 arrows that will work with her new bow. Foxglove moves a little closer to the main road and tries her out her bow by shooting at the oak across the road without having to shoot through a window.
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She feels much better about her skill. ( ) As she is shooting she sees Weston exit a building on the east side of the lane that leads north to the garrison. He crosses the lane with Numbor and passes between two of the west buildings.
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She begins to mumble under her breath at the down turn of her luck with only 2 hits out of the second five.
Meanwhile Justus retrieves several small bags from his belt pouches and counts out gold and platinum coins. Frowning he says "I seem to have a shortage. We can go to the Golden Key and I can draw out enough coin to cover this, but I have a ruby worth 500 gp which I can use to make up the difference right now." ( , Alk is sure that the ruby is worth what Justus says it is.) Justus hands over the ruby, 100 platinum pieces and 55 gold pieces.
While practising her archery, Foxglove also pays attention to her drawing technique and not just the aiming part.
Quick and silent does the job - if I keep practicing I should be soon be able to have a second arrow in flight before the target is aware of the first one.
..but after a while she loses focus and her mind starts meandering again. I wonder if I could fire this standing on a tree branch, like a wood elves do. Though if I tried it hanging upside-down by my legs, I'd need to redesign the quiver so the arrows don't fa... crap! What a lame shot, good Weston didn't see that. I should try to glean some tips from him - he's the best archer I've met yet.
The moment Alk exits, she hurries to collect any unbroken arrows, then hustles over to him.
That went well, eh? Pretty good pay for a few days adventuring work. What next?
Unstringing and putting away her bow , she comments:
For now the bow mostly looks good. But it packs a punch and outranges any polearm. It might even get us lunch on the road.
After carefully counting the coinage and nodding his acceptance, Alk shakes the man's hand saying, "Look's like a deal ta me. Thank ye fer yer business, lad."
Once the party gets back down to business, Alk scratches his beard and says to Foxglove, "Ah reckon we've done wha' we need ta here. Ah'm ready t' move on if ye're both ready."
Harad says "With the armor and bows sold, I think we need to see the shopkeeper at the 3 Fangs to sell the swords." (Harad points to the building just north of the Black Eagle.) "After that we can get rooms in the Iron Keel for the night. I still need to recover from those spider poisonings to get my strength back."
The party moves to the 3 Fangs. Above the door is a very large skull, feline, but with the lower right incisor missing (hence 3 fangs). The two story building looks like a fortress, with iron bound doors and iron bound window shutters. The shutters are open, as is the door. Inside you find a Tian female sitting by the unlit fireplace. She looks up from the javelin she is repairing to say "Well, they finally come to the right place, they do. I am Biraz. From what I have been hearing you have something to sell, yes?
The shop looks like it has a wide array of pointy things.
Foxglove curses herself for spending so much money beforechecking the goods here, then corrects herself: My pointy bits have served well so far, and I can't afford properly enchanted ones. Besides, I didn't have a bow.
She nods to Biraz.
"Your sources were right" this time "Did they also tell you what, and how much you should offer us?"
She gives a challenging look, but quickly hides it behind a disarming smile and a wink. With a sweeping gesture, she adds "I see we have some common interests. While I already carry the best I can presently afford, one must always prepare for success, so show me something tempting enough and I will come back next time we have valuable loot. A short Tian blade maybe?"
Helping the guys put the loot on the table, she engages in strategic chatter
"Most of this is standard issue - proper tools for the trade of soldiering. But this one here is a treasure - good craftmanship but most importantly enchanted. Doubtless you've already heard that the companies are meeting in town and some factions are pushing for action against the Broken Chain goblins. Probably a good time to be an arms dealer."
Stage whispering (but intending Harad to hear it), she adds
"You could also maybe sell a weapon to Harad here, he insists on fighting with his bare hands and feet, even against poisonous spiders."
Harad says, "I have weapons, I just prefer to use my training enhanced natural ones. I do try not to bite.".
Biraz says, "Ah, biting should be only used wisely. Let us see what you have, yes?" She begins to examine the 8 regular longswords, 1 +1 longsword, and the 4 goblin dogslicers. ( )
She says, "It's a nice collection, it is. The dogslicers will make a good tourist novelty. I'll give you 1,157.5 gp for the magic longsword, 60 gp for the 8 other longswords, and 16 gp for the dogslicers. We make a bargain, yes?"
She says to Foxglove, "I do have something for you, yes. I have a magic enhanced rapier for 2,320 gp. You wish to see, yes?" to Alk she says "For you, maybe you would like to shoot better, yes? I have a magically enhanced light crossbow that would fit you well. You wish to look, yes?"
She says to Foxglove, "I do have something for you, yes. I have a magic enhanced rapier for 2,320 gp. You wish to see, yes?"
Foxglove grins, "Oh, I'd love to see that. I like rapiers, pointing one at someones throat has so much style than doing the same with a dagger."
"Though honestly, once the melee starts I like to get very close and personal, so a dagger -or two- works just as fine. Or maybe even something in between."
Alk looks wistfully at the crossbow but slowly shakes his head, "Ah reckon that beauty will have ta wait."
Biraz says, "'Fraid I don't have better small sharps, but I'll have my eye out, yes."
Having completed the sales, Harad leads the party out of the shop. "I think we should take Carrot and Ælfwine over to the Bridled Oar and get them settled. And I think we should get ourselves settled in the Iron Keel to wait for Westol."
The party exits the shop, turns left, then left again to move toward the Brideled Oar. As they approach a young boy rushes out. "Stable y'r horses masters?"
Harad says, "Are you Hektor?" The boy brightens visible and says "Yes, can I help ya? Harda says, "A friend of ours, Westol, said we should ask for you when we needed stable services. Can you do that for us?"
"Westol has always helped been good ta us. We'll take as good a care o' yours as we done 'is." It will cost the party 2 silver pieces to get Carrot and Ælfwine quartered and feed for a couple of days, if the party stays that long. The party removes the packs and materials from the two animals and puts them onto a wheelbarrow provided by person who was cleaning out the stalls. Hektor puts the animals into stalls, provides them with fresh water and feed, then begins to brush them with care. The party moves past the well by the stable and up to the porch of the Iron Keel Inn. Harad pays the stable cleaner a few coppers to watch the wheelbarrow and they enter through the double doors.
As they enter they see a large room with fireplaces on either side, comfortable chairs facing each. To their right they see three people talking. One of them looks extremely well dressed; the others less so. They stop talking as the party enters, turning to see who you are. The well dressed one appears to be a human while the other two look like halflings.
There is a woman standing at the desk on the far side of the room. A large window behind her looks onto a courtyard with a large well. "Gentle travelers, my name is Dorama Domingo. How can the Iron Keel serve you today?"
Foxglove puts on a high-class accent .
"Well met, madame. My guide here has been poisoned, and needs to rest for a few days. Not your best suite please, as we are travelling incognito." She glances over at the well-dressed human and sighs "or at least, trying to. We would be ever so much obligée if you could arrange something private."
Dorama does not looked impressed. She says, "Not the best suite ... of course. The Iron Keel is nearly full with the birthday party tonight. We do have two double bed rooms available on the second floor. They are 4 gp each per night. There is a privy room beneath the stairs on this floor. If you wish to bathe, that is 10 sp each... per bath. Our standard fair for dinner is 5 sp and is served in the bar. For something special, it is market price."
"There are, of course, the house rules. Fighting will mean expulsion ... no refund. Any damage to the Inn as a result of your stay will be at triple cost of repair ... no exceptions. Extensions to your stay must be paid in advance each mid-morning. There is no discount for paying ahead."
"Would you like one or both rooms?"
Foxglove deflates a bit and mutters under her breath
"Incognito yes, but someday we'll be famous!"
The next instant she is back in business:
"One room, three dinners and at least one bath...", she looks around at her companions "better make that three baths. Do you have a maid who could help with my coiffure? Oh, and her bring some spare hairpins, please?"
She nonchalantly puts a stack of 10gp on the counter.
Despite failure to impress Dorama, she plans to dress up in her very finest. Because she likes to look good.
Looking at Foxglove Dorama says "This is not a settlement for such frippery. We do not have ... maids. If you can't be self-sufficient, you don't last long here, even this close to Fort Inevitable. You can find hair pins at the Bread and Salt. Because of the party there are only a few slots left. Each slot is one hour which allows for heating the water and cleaning up afterward. The first open slot is 2 hours from now."
To Alk and Harad "First slot in mine! I'll be back in an hour."
She turns around and walks out the door, leaving the stack of gold pieces on the counter.
Outside, she looks for a sparring ground or similar (plan B: the archery range) to work her anger out of the system.
Alk does what he needs to do in order to prepare for the evening; he straightens himself out with magic, changing his outfit into a fine tunic and pants suggestive of humble wealth. He moves personal belongings into the room, making sure the room is secure enough before going downstairs to the bar. He casually settles in for a few pints, making conversation with the other travellers. He mostly talks to find out why the others are at the tavern, and to get information as to who the big players at the party might be.
Dorama seems to take no notice of Foxglove as she picks up the gold and gives Harad and Alk 2 simple keys. "Go up the stairs, turn right down the hall. The second room on your left, #10, is this key. Continue down the hall and through the door. To the left as you enter the crosshall is #8, the other key. The bath is in the back off the service entrance."
Harad and Alk go down the hall toward the back to see where the baths are, then go upstairs. Thye take the first room, #10, and hold the key to #8 for Foxglove.
Second floor PC rooms
First Floor when the Party goes to dinner
As Foxglove is using one of the trees east of the inn to practice her shooting she sees Westol approaching from the north. Numbor is with him and he is carrying two bottles. "I see you have a new acquisition. I hope it shoots well. I have brought a couple of bottles of good wine as I hope to meet all of you for dinner tonight in the Inn. I have someone I wish for you to meet. I'll bring her by at 6."
As Foxglove is using one of the trees east of the inn to practice her shooting she sees Westol approaching from the north. Numbor is with him and he is carrying two bottles. "I see you have a new acquisition. I hope it shoots well. I have brought a couple of bottles of good wine as I hope to meet all of you for dinner tonight in the Inn. I have someone I wish for you to meet. I'll bring her by at 6."
Foxglove smiles at Westol and nods to her new bow
"Hi Numbor, hi Westol. Yeah, I got the beauty here - and she certainly shoots better than me. Maybe you should give me some pointers? It was after all your display that made me take up archery.""Dining with you? That sounds very nice. I'm looking forward to seeing you then".
What does he mean "her"? It better not be someone younger and prettier than me!
Whether Westol gives has archery pointers or not, she leaves the archery grounds in a good mood a little later to get her bath and dress up for dinner.
Westol gives Foxglove a few pointers then leaves to enter the Iron Keel Inn by the front door. After about 30 minutes Foxglove retrieves her arrows and goes into the inn. Harad is waiting and shows her the bath area before taking her up stairs to point out her room. (PC Rooms) Foxglove's is the middle room on the east side.
Foxglove is able to take a bath properly. With a little work she can put up her hair and change for the evening. Harad and Alk also get their baths and settle in.
A little before 6 the three of you go down to the bar/dinning room and sit at a small table on the east side of the room. The three people you saw earlier in the lobby are also there. The two halflings are seated at a table on the north end of the room talking to the well dressed human, who is standing. The human leaves, the barmaid serves the two dinner, and they begin to eat with polite gusto.
Another barmaid comes over with two bottles of wine. "Westol brought these by earlier. He said to serve them to you when you got here. It seems that you have already paid for dinner. I'll bring it out shortly." With that she goes through a door in the northwest corner, which you can see leads to a kitchen beyond.
Shortly after that Westol enters with a small hooded figure. He sits down at a table next to yours with Numbor at his feet. (Westol and Guest) The small hooded figure places a slate board and some pieces of chalk on the table, then climbs into one of the chairs.
Alk thinks that the figure reminds him of an elf, but he has never seen one this small.
Westol says "I must leave you tonight to attend to some business. But before I go I have some news that I believe pertains to you. I know a gnome who has a particular gift, he has dreams that more than not are true glimpses of events to come. He thinks that you three are going into places that are dark and dangerous. There may even be creatures from outside our normal world involved. I can not go with you on this journey, but I have brought a friend who might be very, very useful to you in this issue. Even though she can not hear, she has strength and power. She is also a healer, which might be very useful." Westol gestures to the slate, which the small figure pushes toward him. He picks up a piece of chalk and writes briefly on the slate, then shows it to the figure. The figure takes the slate, wipes it clean and begins to write.
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The small hooded figure pauses for a moment, writes another sentence and turns the slate to face your table.
It reads,
"I am Dezi. Westol said you might need me. The oracle's curse took my hearing. I avoid hurting others, but can keep you from staying hurt... I know a few other tricks as well.
I will help if you will have me."
Once eye contact has resumed, Dezi holds the board out as invitation to respond.
Standing on the chair, she comes at most a foot above the table, and seems to carry no weapons or implements of any sort. Her outward mannerisms are demure, yet earnest, and she seems too reserved, or perhaps too shy, to smile around strangers.
Alk is perplexed by the new figure; she seems much too small even for a gnome or halfling, and yet her features remind him of an elf. He takes the chalk in hand and writes out in a neat and practiced script, "Greetings, I am Alk. We are on a dangerous mission, what do you hope to gain by joining us?" Alk is a little suspicious of this figure, who he assumes is hiding her real figure with magic. Is she perhaps some sort of fey with an elf disguise? If so, someone should tell her that real elves are considerably taller.
Upon reading the response, Dezi looks back at Alk and inclines her head respectfully. Taking up the chalk and board she writes below Alk's message and holds it up again. The new words are less neat and almost artistic by comparison, perhaps from using her arm as part of the motion to make appropriately sized letters,
"Well met Alk, perhaps more dangerous than you know. I search, for answers, for magic, and for purpose. Keep friends safe. Seems like this helps all goals at once. Not immune to lure of magical treasures."
The last sentence appears a bit cramped as it was running out of space, but her words offer sharp contrast to her otherwise mild mannerisms. As you finish reading you see Dezi looking up at Westol and down at Numbor before turning back to your table.
Foxglove is able to take a bath properly. With a little work she can put up her hair and change for the evening.
Covering her mouth with a napkin and talking when Alk is writing, Foxglove comments to Westol:
She cannot fight, she cannot hear - and I betcha she cannot stealth either - and you see her as a valuable addition? Strong magic?
To Dezi, fixing her eyes as Dezi's mouth:
"Well met Dezi. Can you read my lips? Or do we need to find other ways to communicate? Sign language maybe?"
Maybe we could make some prearranged codes for the card in a harrowing deck or something.. could be neat
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Dezi watches Foxglove's mouth, waiting for eyes to meet before giving a sad smile and a small shake of the head. Her eyes widen for a moment and coming to the same conclusion she quickly signs something to Foxglove and arches a brow in query.
After waiting for a reply, she tilts her head towards the board and chalk.
Westol says to Foxglove, "A wand is small compared to a greatsword, isn't it? You should ask your questions of her. She has my trust."
Dezi watches Foxglove's mouth, waiting for eyes to meet before giving a sad smile and a small shake of the head. Her eyes widen for a moment and coming to the same conclusion she quickly signs something to Foxglove and arches a brow in query.
After waiting for a reply, she tilts her head towards the board and chalk.
ok... so smart enough at least to understand what I asked, but.. aha! she just asked me something
Foxglove reaches towards the chalk, waits for the little nod, then writes:
"I welcome you, Deci Desi Dezi"
"Drat! Writing is so slow, there must be...hmm... Alk, the wand I used so I could whisper in your ear - do you think that would work on her? I could run and fetch it. Throwing little rocks at each other with notes attached to them isn't my favourite idea for relaying combat orders. Could you use magic to animate the chalk so it writes what we say?"
Back to the chalk and board:
"We'll find a way!"
What if she can't even scream when a monster sneaks up on her... oh, right, she could use a signal whistle or something. If she can do the colored lights trick, we could assign meaning to the colors as well. She probably has some magic to stay out of throuble too - invisibility or something. And we could probably learn some of that sign language. Yeah - it's going to work. One way or the other.
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A small smile plays across Dezi's mouth on reading this latest message.
Goodness, she must think I'm a wee bit daft and not just deaf. Well, she wouldn't be first and won't be the last.
I wonder how well these three can sneak? That last group of adventurers was like a herd of pigs in a pottery shop.
She looks at Foxglove and nods, still smiling a little. Taking up the chalk she writes, "Name?" and looks questioningly at Foxglove, and then Harad. Then adds, "Have you questions about me?" This time she includes Alk in the inquiry.
Harad motions for the slate, then writes "My name is Harad Navar, and I may be the one who has set us on this dark path. Healers are a boon. Can you cast lesser restoration? I have been poisoned by spiders recently and am still weak."
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Dezi smiles and inclines her head to Harad at seeing his name. Her expression becomes more solemn at the mention of darkness, but is quickly smoothed by his appreciation of healers. Her brows raise in alarm at the mention of Harad being poisoned.
I can cure basic poison, but ability damage? I just started learning that very spell recently, but I'm far from being able to cast it. I hope he's not too hurt!
After wiping off the slate once more, she returns it with the message, "Very sorry, only basic poison. Learning now, can cure soon. Other hurts?"
Goodness, she must think I'm a wee bit daft and not just deaf. Well, she wouldn't be first and won't be the last.
She looks at Foxglove and nods, still smiling a little. Taking up the chalk she writes, "Name?" and looks questioningly at Foxglove, and then Harad. Then adds, "Have you questions about me?" This time she includes Alk in the inquiry.
On her turn, Foxglove writes "I am Foxglove" and draws a simple scetch of the flower.
In the question round, Foxglove has the following questions:-Who do you get your powers from?
-Who cursed you & why?
-Westol mentioned creatures not of this world. How can you help us fight them?
and... finally she cannot contain her curiosity any longer.
-Why are you so little?
Foxglove only has minor scratches but happily accepts. After feeling the healing magic, she cocks her head and looks at Dezi again, re-examining her features, then seems very satisfied with what she sees.
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On her turn, Foxglove writes "I am Foxglove" and draws a simple scetch of the flower.
In the question round, Foxglove has the following questions:
-Who do you get your powers from?
-Who cursed you & why?
-Westol mentioned creatures not of this world. How can you help us fight them?
and... finally she cannot contain her curiosity any longer.
-Why are you so little?
At seeing the name and the flower, Dezi beams a smile at Foxglove for a moment.
She responds to the questions with the following:
"Taught by servant of Pharasma, my patron."
"Curse part of event that set me down path of oracle, was very young."
"Mostly healing and support, but not defenseless. Dealt with outsiders before."
The last question gets a grin and a small laugh, the first sound she's made past the scratching of chalk on the board.
"Never told me. Think fey blood, think mother embarrassed. One of my questions hope to answer."
"Never told me. Think fey blood, think mother embarrassed. One of my questions hope to answer."
Foxglove's face goes through a series of expressions as various images play in her imagination, ending with a blissful smile followed by a blush as she realizes the others are looking at her.
The mention of Pharasma, though, appears to be less of a favourite.
Oh great - so now we are going to camp in graveyards and commune with the spirits of the dead? I frigging hate undead - they're creepy!
A little later in the meal, she realizes Dezi didn't actually answer the 2nd and 3rd question. She guards her tongue...chalk well. Not so stupid after all, it seems. Good!
There is an awkward pause in the conversation.
Foxglove glances at Harad. Well, you've accepted her into the company, what happens now?
Alk, for his part, patiently watches the chalk conversation, saying nothing and sipping his ale absentmindedly.
Ever impatient, Foxglove clears her throat and continues talking.
"So... anyways. Nice dress, Dezi.. doh!"
She grabs the chalk again:
-Dress: Religious or your personal style?
Foxglove is intrigued by the cut and style - or maybe it's just Dezi's small size that makes it look different.
Do Pharasmans pray at sunrise? or sunset?
-Morning person or night shift?
(if Dezi indicates night shift, Foxglove will ask about night vision. And possibly if she wants to go for drinks later).
Dezi flashes a large smile at reference to her dress and hooks a thumb at herself, beaming in a sort of proud shyness.
She actually thinks up a new dress design every day, some are not as well received.
After a moment she points at a bright light and shades her eyes with a pained look, squinting her eyes for effect. She points at the word 'night' on the board, while nodding emphatically.
(Drinks sound like fun, well.. drink.. it does not take much.)
Harad says to Weston, "Does this other business involve the hobgoblins and goblins that first drew us together?" Weston says, "Yes, I must work toward getting the various companies of Darkmantle convinced to attack them and rid the area of a growing threat. That is what we do."
"If you vouch for her integrety and honor, I can be satisfied with that", Harad says. Reaching for the slate he writes, then shows to Foxglove and Alk, then to her "Our path is south to investigate a strange occurrence with dead dwarfs and odd idols." Erasing and writing again, "We share our reword, if any, our resources, and our danger, all equally." After showing this to the others he writes."Will you commit to supporting us and traveling with us on this investigation?"
Dezi flashes a large smile at reference to her dress and hooks a thumb at herself, beaming in a sort of proud shyness.
She actually thinks up a new dress design every day, some are not as well received.
After a moment she points at a bright light and shades her eyes with a pained look, squinting her eyes for effect. She points at the word 'night' on the board, while nodding emphatically.(Drinks sound like fun, well.. drink.. it does not take much.)
Foxglove grins. Don't like the bright light, eh? I think we may get along fine enough. Though the spotlight can be a very fun place when you know exactly what you want them to see.
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after the dinner, she will try to find a place to go dancing. (Being deaf, Dezi might have completely missed out the pleasures of dancing - or not). Both possessing natural grace and performing skills (dance/percussion), they should be able to have quite a good time together. On the way home, Foxglove will ask whether the healing magic cures hangovers.
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Dezi nods solemnly to Harad and says aloud,
"You have me. I ask only that you judge me kindly whence fades the light by which you see me blindly."
Her voice is melodic in that, rather than the slurring one might expect of words spoken by a deaf person, it reminds you more of chords shifting from one to another, though no easier to smoothly interpret than the first time hearing a strange accent. Indeed, you are left with nearly the memory of song, rather than of the words alone.
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After dinner she decides to tag along with Foxglove in search of drink, drums and dancing. Making a detour to Lihan's, she takes the opportunity to change her outfit via sleeves of many garments to a long bluish silver dress that comes up to her neck while leaving her arms bare. Once she is changed she takes a moment to touch up her disguise ( ), then grabs her hand drums and rejoins Foxglove. As they approach their destination, she realizes she has forgotten her cloak and has no way of covering her silver hair as she had during dinner. Maybe Foxy'll chalk it up to being tiny? She'll know the truth of things soon enough.
Once they have found a table she wastes no time in ordering a small glass of spirits mixed with whatever fruit is in season.
After a close encounter several months back, she habitually casts purify drink before taking a sip and stops drinking once she's no longer able to perform the spell without mucking up the proper gestures.
As she feels her face begin to flush, she reaches for her hand drums and begins to slowly beat out a rather primal rhythm, overlapping basic beats (as inebriation allows) until it beckons the feet to move and the body to sway.
With a rhythm in place she begins to harmonize, wordlessly binding each beat of the drum to the next with a voice that is surprising given her size and easily able to cut through the din to be heard clearly behind each strike of drum hide.
Beat and voice build in intensity until they burst into something altogether different sounding, but using the same timing as before to stay with a dancer. Eventually she peels away voice and then layered beats, each several measures apart, until she is left only the same primal rhythm she began with. With the final measure coming to a close, she taps out a complex flourish and leaves the reverberations hanging in the air.
She has no idea if healing cures a hangover, but decides that it is as noble a use of magic as any she has pursued thus far and attempts it all the same.
Alk, not being one who does much partying himself, retires to his room once the group has finishes conducting business. In his room he retrieves the scrolls of color spray and expeditious retreat which he had planned to write into his spellbook. He also removes from his bag the recently purchased reagents necessary to write the spells: a fine-tipped eagle feather quill; a vial of ink made from a mixture of crushed mandrake, poppy seeds, and the blood of a magical beast; two types of incense; and finally, a special type of resin coating.
Alk first lights his lamp (or if the inn provides one, lights that one) and carefully unrolls the first scroll, admiring the beauty of the raised arcane writing shimmering in the flickering light. He muses over the arcane script with a prolonged glance, knowing that by the end of the hour he'll have poured over every nuance of the script and have it memorized. With one more moment's hesitation to prepare his mind, Alk lights two sticks of incense and begins studying the scroll. He sits on the edge of his bed, barely moving but for his eyes for the entirety of an hour.
Once he's satisfied that he understands the scroll, Alk lays it next to him on the bed and removes his spellbook from his side, opening it to the first blank page. The scent of the aged vellum and the magical inks causes Alk to sigh in a pleasant, familiar way. When he reaches a blank page he wastes no time in carefully putting to paper the contours and eldritch formulas which still remain in his mind's eye. He only glances at the scroll once during the whole process. With the page full of content, Alk gives it a glance over, satisfied with his handiwork, then lays the book down to coat the fresh page with the resin coating in order to preserve the arcane writing. He glances to the scroll he was just studying, noting that the transfer of magical energy was successful as the scroll now lay blank.
As the coating dries Alk moves on to the next scroll: expeditious retreat. Before opening the scroll Alk takes a minute to clear his mind, willing the images of the previous scroll out of his head and focusing instead on a mental picture of a stream of water. Alk then replaces the by-now burned out incense sticks and, opening the second scroll, begins anew in his study.
Now that he's in the right mindset, Alk finds the second scroll's intricacies much easier to commit to memory, though he is no less thorough in ensuring that he has the whole thing in his mind before picking up his spellbook. The quill travels quickly along the page as Alk expertly fills out the diagrams and incantations needed. He finishes up as he did the first page, with a preservative coating, before setting the open spellbook down beside the bed. He does his nightly ritual of counting all of his money and possessions, ensuring nothing was stolen from him during the day, and then offering a quick and practiced prayer of thanks to Torag and Abadar before blowing out the light and tucking in early for the night.
As they approach their destination, she realizes she has forgotten her cloak and has no way of covering her silver hair as she had during dinner. Maybe Foxy'll chalk it up to being tiny? She'll know the truth of things soon enough.
"Wow, I absolutely love your fey-touched hair! Or is it a glamour spell? And it matches your dress."
Foxglove has changed to her (borderline indecent) dancer outfit underneath a dark green hooded cloak. One very visible stiletto at the hip to warn drunk men from acting on bad ideas.---
Initially, she is just awestruck when Dezi starts singing on top of the complex drum best. And here I thought... well, I'm impressed!
Inspired, she starts first to mimic Dezi's sway, then start following her own intuition, nearly getting lost in the song.
.
"Wow! Just... wow!"
Harad excuses himself, but instead of going to the room he shares with Alk, he heads out the door and down the street to the Golden Key (Temple of Abadar). There he inquires about a lessor restoration to recover his strength. He finds Ananias Taavi, the head cleric for the temple who has that spell memorized and casts it for 120 gp. The spell restores points to Harad's strength, restoring him completely. Thanking the cleric he returns to the Inn, but noticing Alk studying he retreats downstairs and once again goes outside.
Foxglove goes upstairs to change while Dezi has gone back to the Dragon Wind Winery to do like wise. Meeting back in the Inn lobby they move up the street to the Raven's Nest Tavern. Foxglove orders drinks for them both and Dezi takes her's to a chair between the two arches that separate the more open main room from the more intimate fireplace room. As Dezi begins to play several couples get up to stand near her, listening intently. Soon they and Foxglove are all dancing to the extraordinary music. As the final flourish fads the dancers burst into cheering and applause. "And we thought that we wouldn't have any fun not going to the Moana's party. They have nothing like this up there!"
Everyone seems to want to buy Dezi and Foxglove drinks. The ice has been broken along with the sense of exclusion the tavern goers seem to have been feeling. One of the patrons brings out a fiddle, while another woman displays a small flute. "Now it is our turn to entertain you!"
The players are not very good, but both seem to be well lubricated after the rounds of drinks, and the rest of the patrons don't seem to mind. They appear to have played together before, if badly.
On the way home, giggling and showing clear signs of having been bought plenty of drinks, Foxglove tries to persuade Dezi to "look around a bit" in the village.
Basically meaning: sneaking around (but no climbing), peeking through windows and trying to spy on any still awake (or sleeping) people without being seen.
When they run into a cat on the way, Foxy stops and pets it.It is obvious she loves cats. She writes "we have a Cat", and makes a stick figure of Cat with an earring and sharp claws leaping in the face of a goblin shaman.
Eventually, they meander their way back to the inn, where Foxglove gives Dezi a big hug.
"Thank you for a wonderful evening. Nothing like a big party to make you feel - well - alive, before going out on dangerous adventures. See you in the morning?"
Glancing up at the sky, she adds: "Well, maybe not at first light, but no worries, Alk needs to rehearse his magic for a good hour and Harad does his meditation thing, so we'll get at least some sleep."
Rather than writing, she accompanies her talk with stick figures on Dezi's board: One bearded with a book, one in a yoga pose, one sleeping and a tiny one also sleeping. She adds a sun above. And a bed underneath the third figure. Yawns. "Good night!"
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It does not take much persuading to get Dezi to "look around a bit". She quickly begins to skulk in a too obvious fashion, though still light on her feet despite her obvious drunkenness. ( ).
While Foxglove is peeking in on Alk, Dezi levitates herself to eye level, looking in on the wizard as well, thinking nothing of this particular revelation in her current state, and continues to do so in subsequent windows to sate her curiosity.
Upon meeting said cat, she walks up to it and butts heads with it in greeting, followed by scratches to the neck and chin and abruptly losing her train of thought she walks over to something that catches her eye. This causes the cat to nearly lose its balance as it leaned into the scratches, earning Dezi a disapproving stare which she remains unaware of. (
After seeing the image of a cat with an earring, she falls to the ground in a fit of giggles, at last collecting herself with great effort to continue back to the inn where she hugs her goodbyes with Foxglove. She then proceeds to sneak the rest of the way back to the Winery, where she collapses in her bed, pausing only to set her drums on the nightstand.
There are an unusual number of people wandering about during the night so it is difficult to find a place to begin stealth without being seen.
Foxglove and Dezi believe that the wandering people are actually guards on patrol. Their movement appear random, but a little observation shows that the paths the wandering people take are not identical but always cover the same areas, just with a different pair of people. As you watch for an hour (in the guise of strolling around yourselves) you think that the pattern of people is is not fixed, just the areas within which they walk.
Foxglove and Dezi believe that the wanderers are taking special notice of Foxglove.