At the winged monsters attack on helpless victims Capt's demeanour darkens.
And then he sighs, "Gon'a have to work on that..."
Two of the creatures on the ground survive our heroes' retaliation!
Miss!
Miss!
One misses the good Captain, despite him flinging his shield! The one that nips at Caledon looks like it would die from a swift kick.
Those that are killed overwhelm those nearby with a rancid odor—
—an odor that has already proven to be more than Alistair can stomach!
Ragdoll grabs Alistair by the leg. Without the wig, the slave girl looks like a kid—well into her teens, but a kid nonetheless. She winces in pain from the attack, keeping one eye shut so her own blood doesn't blind her as it leaks from her vicious head-wound.
She gasps out a few words. "That gun o' yours... you can k...kill it?" They end like a whimpered question, but the girl does not require an answer. She lowers her head, mumbles foreign words, and magic flows from her gentle fingers.
Alistair is no longer in any pain.
...
Hank pulled himself from under the dead froghemoth's great weight. Today was a good day to be a fan of slimy things.
He slid over to his daughter and impatiently allowed her to mount him once again.
They lashed out at the enemies by them
Hunter drops into a dive in the direction of Captain Andoran's shield.
Caldeon dashes toward the ships railing and makes a motion as if he were skipping a stone across a pond. However, instead of a stone - a dart of acid manifest from his finger tips.
Anabel retches as the fart cloud engulfs her. She pulls her veil aside and kneels on the dock, heaving into the water.
The Elegant Edge is feeling about as elegant as a lady can after her dead opponent farts in her face. She fans at the stench and helps the good Captain free the slaves.
Meanwhile, Alistair is lining up a shot before the winged creature can attack another innocent...
Sabs is unperturbed, perhaps even unaware, of the fumes.
Seeing the creature go after the ophidian sabs tosses some fire at it, "Hey! My humans worked hard to save them! Stop it!"
Emboldened by the gnome's words and actions (as well as the actions of "her humans!"), her fellow (ophidian) Oracles of the Dawnflower let out a healing burst.
The sphere of warm light envelops the enemy as well, but the creature is not truly alive, so it is not healed.
Alistair sees his target is in flames, but not going down... yet.
Alistair takes a short breather to recover from the sickness that had overcome him.he glances skyward at the creature then back at the girl that apparently helped him.
with a wink to the girl, he pulls his gun and takes aim at the harpy, waiting for the thing to get closer.
once within 30' range...
Alistair looks back at the girl the healed him, thanks he says with a smile.
Alistair's shot blasts one of the monster's wings to vomity smithereens.
It falls from the sky, soaring past the slave girls and into a wall—
—hard!
Some of the slaves gag at the odor eminating from the pukey stain on the wall. Silkworm manages to resist the effect, and—having now been freed by Captain Andoran and the Edge—casts Remove Sickness on Anabel. She says, "You and your gunslinger friend may wish to find a privy in the next quarter-hour. Our magic postpones symptoms." The silk-clad slave adds, "If you do not mind my saying, I admire your tastes." Anabel can't help but notice Silkworm wears a lot of fine silk for a slave. She is not dressed like a prince's concubine, but like a religious leader.
Ragdoll replies to Alistair. "I wasn't about to run away from the man who freed us—at least I assume that's what you're doing. But even if you're planning to own us, I'm a pacifist, but not a coward. My last owner was a Captain of the Frogazon Guard." The girl rolls her eyes at the term. "In the Boggard tongue, the word translates to 'Amazon.' The Captain used to joke about the way humans add the prefix 'frog' to everything to do with Boggards."
As our own Captain (of Andoran) finishes freeing the slaves, there is a stomping heard from the water.
"Oh come ON!" Jitterbug cries out, "Why can't the Prince just die once like a normal person?!"
What's left of the froghemoth stomps out of its watery grave, though it's not half as threatening as it sounds—it's not even half a froghemoth. All that remains is a pair of thick frog-legs and the lower third of a froghemoth torso. It walks to the dock, tromps through boards, and its oddly mechanical motion ends when the partial creature bumps into the wall behind the docks. Aside from bits of intestine and visible hip bones, there is something in the very center of the froghemoth's insides...
An egg.
A creepy, glowing egg containing a skull slightly larger than an adult human's. It has teeth like the creature that Biff became—like those that burst from the froghemoth's body.
But it appears this demonic thing will never become a full monster. Bits of flesh are separating from the skull. The spine is severed from the bottom of the egg, and the green glow is fading.
Alistair look to Ragdoll, Well, I don't plan on owning you, <<placing a hand on her shoulder>> but, if you want to stick with me, I wouldn't mind the company. but you are free to go if you wish.
feeling the sickness starting to creep back, Now if you will excuse me, I think there is something very important for me to look into. as he looks for someplace private to allow this nausea to pass. (preferably away from any stench)
Sabs ever-curious peers into the froghemoth's torso studying the egg intently while she cast detect magic.
This last "demon" died during its creation. Sabs has experience with positive energy. The egg's aura is the polar opposite.
As far as nature goes, this "egg" is effectively a womb inside a male frogman. Female frogs are known for becoming male, but the reverse never happens. (If Sabrina is *that* curious, it doesn't take a perception check to see that the froghemoth is completely male on the outside.) The egg is "wired" to the froghemoth's intestines. No living creature could survive such a "pregnancy." It seems that once a creature ingests a demon seed, it is nothing more than a host and a food source for a "demon."
Sabs isn't sure what kind of magic makes this rapidly growing creature possible. "Because demons" is as good an explanation as any. Despite Sabs' thorough documentation of every discovery she's happened upon, everything about this "egg" is completely alien.
Caledon takes a look at the "egg," his expression pensive. Absently he says "We should inspect that crate on the dock"
Caledon continues to circle the egg. As an aside to Sabrina he makes a comment in Slyvan.
I left my home and found a gnome
Who had no trick for the Slyvan limerick.
I said to her, ‘you are in Err’
‘Newest trend of the Gnomish poet, seems you don’t know it.’
He pauses what he is saying to her and picks up a piece of splintered decking which he uses to gently poke the egg before apparently elaborating.
My Sylvan is not thin, I am Cosmopolitan!
With city Fey, I’ve spent many a day
Learning the rule of their new bardic school.
A cadence in Sylvan is not the plan,
and surely five lines is not what shines.
A Rhyme upon Common translation is the key to admiration.
To heighten the mood, offer some Food.
I have cheese and a variety of nuts if you don't like chicken.
Since the glowy ball-thing doesn't seem to be in need of a thumping. Capt helps the civilian folks away from the mess... adn smell.. and signs of violence.
"Lets all move along. We don't want to get embroiled with any... Guard entanglments." He offers as advice.
The giant froghemoth has certainly earned the attention of several town guards. They are starting to emerge from whatever alleys and hidey-holes they were cowering in. None are about to question the people who defeated a giant and unchained women in a place where slavery is illegal, and in a district where laws are weakly enforced.
The Captain's instincts are certainly cautious and reasonable. Heading toward the Fu Bar seems to be a safe move, knowing friendly strangers are there, as opposed to total strangers anywhere else. And some of those friendly strangers offered to pay our heroes...
Cal can choose to offer words to Froghemoth's Bane before the magic sends the eagle home, cured of its nausea.
As for the crate, there are crumbs of the gems the dock-workers devoured. The crumbs give off a sweet smell... so sweet that Cal wants to taste it—has to!—the crumbs are his! ALL HIS! The treat is very tempting... yet, something in the back of his mind stops his hand from rising to his mouth.
In his hand, are sweet sugary crumbs and purple goo. Cal doesn't remember consciously touching the crumbs and goo. It's as if he blinked, and suddenly the object of desire was in his hand.
But now he is no longer tempted—because Cal knows this is what the Frog Prince ate. It killed him and made him into a monster. Or rather, the Prince ate several demon seeds and became (or "birthed") several monsters.
Without that knowledge, Cal would not be able to resist the temptation. He isn't sure whether the crumbs and goo from other demon seeds would kill him. This mystery is best left unsolved.
Sockhop, the slave that Cal clothed with a blanket, stands beside him. "You felt it too, right? Temptation. My mom told me a slave can't afford to be tempted. We had good owners, and as long as we remembered our place, the amazons would keep me. But I had a diamond in my hand, and just felt like... y'know, like having something that's mine. All mine. But I didn't wanna disappoint mom, so... y'know. I put it down." She adds with a shrug, "I don't even remember picking it up, really."
The good Captain will also see about getting the girls more to wear than handkerchiefs.... (^_~)
Sabs again begins to write furiously while she speaks with Caledon,
Sabs says starting out very slowly and loudly she points to herself, ”I CAN UNDERSTAND AND SPEAK HUMAN LANGUAGE,” pointing to Cal. She quickly returns to her normal fast cadence, pointing to Cal, ”Subject Eagle Man,” she makes an eating motion, ”I will gladly partake in your food ritual,” she waves her hands low to the ground, ”but perhaps we should find level ground.”
Jitterbug would like to wear more than a blanket. She and two of the partially dressed nagaji are glad to follow the Captain to the bar. Perhaps some of the "working girls" can help out...
On the way, Captain Andoran sees Manny and Ness Nelson. Ness is able to cast Prestidigitation several times to cleanse our heroes' clothing of blood, guts and—finally!—that odor.
As for Manny, he tells our heroes, "Our Doctor was able to extract the demon seed from the guy farting in bed. Looks like y'all managed to handle the job without triggering the seeds the dock-workers ingested. We'll get De. Syrus to do the extractions here. Just moving bodies could trigger 'em."
Manny slowly moves his head, surveying the whole area. He then pauses, as if listening to something. After a few seconds, he says, "Take whatever time you need. My benefactor wants to see you when you're ready. We can head over in a few minutes, or in a few hours if you got things to do."
Ness adds, "You guys really came through for the girls, and from what Lebowski explained, sounds like all of Rooftopolis owes you. The city won't pay you, but we don't work for a rich, nutty do-gooder. You'll get the thousand we discussed."
"Along with a bonus that has yet to be discussed."
Manny waits patiently for our heroes to finish business in the district, and will lead the way to his boss when the party is ready...
...
In reply to Sabrina, Caledon says "Yes. That was an Exhausting few minutes. However, I have some things to take care of before finding firmer ground."
Before leaving the ship, Caledon uses his dagger to cut a scrap from the magical sails that propelled the ship at breakneck speeds.
If able to locate any the princes’ teeth in the gore, he inspects them for any of Proud Feather’s blood that’s uncontaminated. If there is any, he uses a scrap of parchment to dab it up and places it into his spell component pouch.
The wizard then removes a pint of oil and his fire steel from his trusty mule’s saddlebags. He douses the crate with oil and destroys the seed crumbs with fire. When he returns to the mule, removes a mess kit and some cheese, nuts and cold chicken which he offers to Sabs, Silkworm and her companions.
To the rest of the part he offers an apology, ”I regret that I have very little to share when split nine ways. The girls can probably use some immediate vittles more so than the rest of us…and it’s never a bad idea to ply fey with food.”
Before departing he collects the chains and manacles used to bind Silkworm and her companions into a sack and adds it to the pack saddle.
When the Nelsons arrive, to Manny he says, “If you don’t mind I’d like to personally witness the destruction of the Seeds extracted by the doctor.
Later, as they are traveling to meet their benefactor he approaches Ness. “Master Ness, are you a student of the Arcane arts?”
The girls are grateful for the food. Manny sees Cal's generosity toward the slave girls, and nods at the wizard's request.
Ness replies to Caledon, "Sorry, I am not." He holds up his gloved hands, and a broken board on the ground floats up, then into the flaming crate. "My white gloves can do a few simple tricks. And so can my black hat. Observe."
Ness removes the top hat from his head, reaches into the lining, which is gray and tan and aquamarine and rusty-red...
...and announces, "I will attempt to pull a RABBIT from my hat!"
...but what he pulls out is a fuzzball which rapidly grows to become
The slave girls gasp and instinctively shift back a step, then freeze.
The lion just stands there, looking at Ness expectantly.
"That's the fourteenth animal I've pulled from this hat, and still... no rabbit."
He grabs the lion by the mane. It becomes a fuzzball. Ness puts the fuzzball back in his hat.
"Are you?" Ness asks Caledon quite calmly, neither embarrassed nor amazed by his spectacular failure. "A student of the arcane, I mean. Because if you are, perhaps you can locate the rabbit."
...
Also, if you try the hat, Ness will tell you, "The command word is 'RABBIT,' and it must be used in a complete sentence."
“I’m a merchant by trade, spices mostly, but I’ve managed to pay for a lesson or two in the arcane.”
He grins at Ness before continuing “I recall one of the early lessons was specifically about not sticking your hand into an unknown magic device offered by a charming fellow with a roguish grin. Gom Jabbar was the professors name. I even learned a bit about the spice trade from him. 'The Spice must flow,' he used to say."
He rolls up his sleeve. "So, naturally I’d love to give it a try.”
When offered, he reaches into the hat “I once knew a witch with a RABBIT familiar, whose name was Hasenpfeffer. “
Caledon pulls a wolf out of the hat.
Ness glares at the wolf. "We meet again, Night Howler. I suspect you ate the rabbit. The Law of Averages owes me a rabbit by now."
The wolf completely ignores Ness. The half-elf rolls his eyes at the creature then says to Cal, "I do hope you're a dog person. If so, you have a loyal pet for the next ten minutes."
Though Ness isn't sure how many animals can be drawn, he believes he's seen fourteen different kinds animals and suspects there are twenty kinds because it's a round number and magic probably likes the number twenty. He has no idea which animal is the most likely to come out of the hat—probably the wolf—but he's sure the rabbit is either least likely or there isn't a rabbit in there at all.
He also wonders what all those animals do inside the hat, or why he never has to feed any of them...
...
Animals produced are always random, and only one may exist at a time. Up to 10 Animals can be drawn from the hat each week, but no more than two per day.
The d4 determines the color of the lining the hand "reaches into."
1 = gray
2 = tan
3 = aquamarine
4 = rusty-red
The d100 determines the random animal.
However, there is a 1% chance the d4 and d100 will roll the same number. If this happens, a rabbit is pulled from the hat!
1, 1 = gray rabbit
2, 2 = tan rabbit
3, 3 = white rabbit
4, 4 = rusty-brown rabbit
"If you do not mind my saying, I admire your tastes."
"Same to you," Anabel replies after she regains control of her churning stomach.
In the aftermath of the battle, the veiled elf disappears somewhere for the night. The next morning, though, she is waiting at the Fu Bar to meet the Nelsons' mysterious patron.
Those who would rather not watch a doctor cut people open to extract demon seeds are welcome to stay at the Fu Bar. Maude casts Prestidigitation until the stench and bloodstains are gone. Henrietta is welcome to the dominatrix's bed, at no charge, with or without company. If she enters, she finds Bunny clad in a robe (and bunny slippers), pouring a hot, alcoholic beverage called "gluhwein."
The slave-girls happily accept clean clothing, and while the outfits are meant to be sexually appealing, it's better than nothing, and the girls don't suffer any consequence. It seems the regular johns are doing business elsewhere tonight, due to all the trouble along the harbor.
Dots and Cat are no longer at Furious George's side. It seems that when medical help arrived, George didn't want to be around. Dots says in a low tone, "Top men from 426 were here to get him—men I ain't seen before, but I know top dogs when I see 'em."
Cats adds, "And they didn't give Jack any crap about getting his manly bits blown off. In that world, something like that happens, you're weak. You're done. But nobody dissed Jack. Just respect, straight faces, and... George was right to get far outta sight. I don't think we'll see him around no more, whether they find him or not."
Back outside, the ex-slaves assist the doctor as he operates on the dock-workers, healing the men as they are cut open. There are a couple close calls, but no fatalities. Once the last demon seed is extracted, it is tossed into a crate and incinerated.
Bulge and Narissa are the first to leave. Manny is about to lead our heroes to his boss, but a green-haired gnome asks if he's done playing hero yet. She addresses him as "Honey," and he calls her "Honey." Apparently, the halfling and gnome are married.
Ness bids his "brother" and "in-law" goodmorrow, then invites those who have yet to make arrangements to join him. Rag Doll seems willing to find out what Alistair wants to do. Ness seems particularly interested in showing Cal around. Silkworm promises to head back to the Fu Bar in the morning to await Anabel's return.
All who follow Ness may stay in the home of the incredibly rich guru, Brother Seamus...
With Rag doll interested in hanging with Alistair a bit, and confident that the nausea had passed. He takes her hand and shows her about the town. and eventually ends up at the home of Brother Seamus.
making idle conversation with Ragdoll inquiring about her past, her home, her family and other such things.
Ragdoll makes a lot of small talk. It seems that, for a young woman who has only known slavery, the life isn't all that bad. But then, the Frogazon (Boggard Amazon) Captain never made her do anything. The slave girls took on derogatory names that made them sound like playthings, but they never were. For reasons Ragdoll can't quite explain or understand herself, names like Moonitune and Sockhop were for the girls' protection.
Silkworm and the others were owned by two separate Amazon Princesses. "There was Princess Luisa, and then there was the one my captain worked for—the late Queen Fiona."
Alistair never heard of these princesses, but then, humans know very little about Boggard royalty. And some also know very little about Boggard physiology. Ragdoll's story eventually eludes to that...
"The thing about boggard amazons is, if you have an all-female population, one of the ladies becomes a male. I mean, in every sense of the word. Lady Luisa became the Bearded Lady, and they call her King Lewy now. She... or he now... mated with Fiona. When an Amazon has two Amazon parents, it's supposed to be a really big deal. The daughter would be revered not as a Princess, but as a Goddess. But they had a boy—the Frog Prince.
"He wasn't a real Prince though. So like his dad, he couldn't stay with the amazons. Lewy gave his slaves to Fiona as a parting gift, and because the slave-girls were dmsafest with the amazons. And all was well until Fiona died of a sudden illness. Lacking a will, her son inherited anything that wasn't legally Amazon property..."
She goes on to reveal that the Prince only inherited the seven slaves. Ragdoll's captain feared the prince would abuse the girls, or worse, ship them off with his friend in the sex trade. Ragdoll volunteered to join the slaves, which is why she had the wig with the hairpins, and the skill to pick locks. Her Captain trained her to escape capture, and her choice to run toward danger to remove Alistair's debilitating nausea? She was trained to be brave—to put others' needs before her own. Ragdoll was a slave, but her Captain treated her like a soldier.
On the way to Brother Seamus', Silkworm tells a similar story of the Prince. When she gets to the part where everyone is on the ship, she says...
"He said King Lewy is on this island. He sent mules to his father, but something went wrong. He needed new mules, and he needed to deliver them immediately and in-person.
"Lewy was good to me. I don't know if Lewy knows about his son's lover. He's the kingpin of Level Four-Twenty-Six."
Jitterbug corrects her spiritual leader. "It's pronounced four TO six. Something to do with the kingpin's forms."
Sockhop says, "Yeah, I heard him telling his guard about his lover's human form. Too skinny, but good for business with the humans, he said."
In the end, the girls aren't sure their story matters now. The Prince is dead, and they are safe. Still, Silkworm appears to be worried...
At Brother Seamus' mansion, our heroes are provided with hot baths, clean robes and pajamas, and there are maids and a butler to escort our heroes to a long table where a complete breakfast awaits: orange juice, milk, coffee, tea, bread, toasted and untoasted, white and wholegrain, a variety of fruits, and at each end of the table and the center as well, unopened boxes of Nutri-Man Cereal.
As drinks are being poured, a muscular but pot-bellied middle-age man enters the room. He appears to be wearing a pink mask at first glance, but in fact his bald head is permanently discolored from burns. The spiral on his forehead is the result of a branding iron.
Yet the man is cheerful. He smiles pleasantly and raises up his hands as Jitterbug looks like she's about to rise to greet her host. He says to all his guests, "Relax, man... I'm-a Brother Seamus, and I really dig your work. You get the thousand for the job like my Nelson boys promised ya!" He hefts a bag of coins onto the table, then adds more saying, "Plus another eight hundred for keeping the girls alive, and six more for the sleeping dock-boys. And what the hell? Another hundred for not inadvertently getting some Joe Schmuck on the street killed with a stray bullet or crashing puke-bird. So that's a nice, round twenty-five."
He snaps his fingers. Maids enter, each with a shiny wheelbarrow with bags of 2500g.
"Each," Brother Seamus adds.
Sabs lifts the large sack of gold with an ease unbecoming of her size and apparent musculature. Stowing it in her pack she says, "Thanks you for the give of shiny metals hammered into small round disks! And for the offering of food!"
Brother Seamus watches with admiration as the little gnome casually lifts more than her own weight.
"Honestly, the wheelbarrows and bags with a big green G on them were just for show. My people can make a bank run, if you prefer." To Sabs, he adds, "Or you can keep the coins on you. I'm guessing it would take a lot more than that you weigh you down."
He pours himself a bowl of Nutri-Man Cereal, not bothering to elaborate on his implied challenge to encumber a gnome with gold. It's hard to know whether this is an intentionally-dramatic pause, especially given his next words:
"Watch this." He pours milk into his Nutrition-Man Cereal. "I could walk away for an hour, and it would still stay crispy." Rainbow streaks start to form in the milk as food coloring bleeds out of the marshmallows. "The kids love the colors, but rainbow milk kinda freaks me out."
He pulls up a chair and apparently intends to finish the whole bowl before he says another word.
Alistair takes his money, (If Ragdoll wishes to hang with Alistair longer), he offers about 100 gold to her.
Couple of things here, I wanted to offer Ragdoll a home with him, not as a slave but rather as an apprentice / guest. she can help him with various experiments and crafting and such. also teach her about various weapon use.
second looking fro means of investment, maybe work toward the classic super hero guy that happen to be a millionaire (aka Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, Tony Stark, etc).
Ragdoll is grateful for the money. She says to Alistair, "I gotta admit... being able to carry my own coins is gonna be different. My Captain said in her mind, I was a person, not a thing... but boggard law said different." She smiles at the gold coins. She lets most cascade into the table, until there are only a few left in her palm. She says to Alistair, "Let me by myself a purse first. If I have a purse, then I can carry the other coins—"
Brother Seamus interrupts, "Or, my people can make a bank-run, and a vault carries the coins for ya."
The ex-slave goes on, "—and I'll use some of that coin to buy whatever the fashionable ladies are wearing here in Rooftopolis."
Seamus finishes his cereal as the ex-slave mentions her desire to shop. The guru pensively scratches his chin, then says, "You know what? You guys should all enjoy yourselves a bit. Anyone who needs a study or a place to work out, ask a maid to show you around. For the ladies, there's abotique a mike west of the property. There's an herbalist a mile east if you're looking for a good cup of tea or magic potion, and a mile north, you'll find a haberdasher. I'm not telling you where the good restaurants are. Eat here!"
Caledon watches with interest as Dr. Syrus prepares for surgery. While the sawbones lays out his tools the wizard retrieves a packet of fishhooks from his travel bag. Upon one of these he impales the carcass of a firefly from his spell pouch.
“Me'a” With that one elven word the body of the insect disappears – it’s material essence converted into arcane energy. Guided by Caledon’s will, the energy is infused into the fishhook which becomes radiant with light.
He embeds the fishhook into a nearby bollard so that the good doctor has light to work by.
When Dr. Syrus and the Nagaji begin their grim work, Caledon collects his scrivener’s kit from his mule. He sets out a bowl of water and birdfeed for hunter and makes himself comfortable near – but not too near - the ongoing surgery.
The wizard then triggers his second power of pearl to recall a preparation of Summon Monster I. With that done he sets out the same tiny bag and candle used to focus his will during the previous castings.
Once settled, Caledon starts the slow and tedious task of crafting a magical scroll. Periodically he uses a small file from his kit to create powdered gold from a coin which he sprinkles over the drying ink.
He pauses his labors from time to time to observe Silkworm and her companions use their healing abilities. When Silkworm isn’t busy concentrating on keeping a dockworker alive, Caledon asks her about her deity and how she came to be a follower.
Alistair take up the offer on the bank run, but keeping Ragdoll's money separate so she does not loose it. Yes, the bank run would be most helpful.
smiling at Ragdoll's excitement. perhaps I can accompany you, There a few things that I wanted to check out as well.
Silkworm replies, "I was the Amazon Princess' spiritual guide. We follow the Dawnflower, Goddess of Redemption. I believe her becoming male was the goddess' plan. As a King, Lewy might be able to persuade boggard lawmen to outlaw slavery as you humans did centuries ago."
Cal notices that Silkworm follows Sarenrae, and embraces the religions stances on redemption as well as pacifism. Being the princess-turned-king's guide, it wouldn't be surprising to Caledon if he were to discover King Lewy is a pacifist as well.
Ragdoll would love to be accompanied. Not in a clingy way, but she isn't entirely sure society will accept her. Though her captain was good to her, she knew she was property according to boggard law... and she's not sure what the Prince would have done to her and the others if not for the demon seeds' effect on the Prince.
Caledon seems distracted and worried but carries on a friendly conversation with Ness. To make small talk he asks about Ness’s brothers and even Manny’s wife. If Ness cares to know more about magic he also explains some of the fundamentals of prestidigitation, using Ness’ experience with the apprentice’s gloves as a foundation.
He listens with keen interest when Silkworm explains the history of the Nagaji and the boggard royal family. When Sockhop mentions the prince’s lover and her “human form” he asks for clarification. He also iquires into King Lewy’s affiliation with 426.
Ness tells Caledon about Nelman's Nightengale. "It was a whore house. My mother worked there, Manny's mother did, and they both got knocked up by customers around the same time. We were both around six when Sugarplum had a huge son of an orc in her belly. The belly-bump was named 'Bulge,' and when the mother died giving birth, the name stuck.
"Boys born to Nelman's whores were called Nelsons. We heard that girls were called an investment. None of us were really related, but Bulge, Manny and I decided we'd act like true brothers and consider the girls sisters. Being half-orc, Bulge was already the muscle of our trio at the age of twelve. We wanted to wait for him to grow up a little more, but Manny had feelings for Clara, and as soon as she closed the door behind her to do business with her first, I figured it was then or never.
"We were quick and quiet about Clara's john. All it took was my shoulders, a window, and Manny with a dagger at his hip. Bulge and I went straight to Nelman's room, me with a rope, and Bulge with his orcish muscles. I never did learn magic, but the way that whorehouse lit up, the way Nelman's ashen corpse looked after he burned alive in his own place... I do have a deep respect for fire."
Ness almost seems apologetic for speaking of his part in a murder. But he goes on,
"I thought the slave girls were going to be abused the way my mother was. The way many of my 'sisters' were. It looks like they were going to be used as mules carrying some sort of plague instead.
"Can't say I follow the Prince's motive."
Sockhop replies to Cal, "King Lewy and Level 426 are polar opposites. As a princess, she was already outspoken when it came to her views on slavery. As King, she... I mean, he wanted to make real changes in boggard society.
"He lost a lot of credibility when his son became involved with Level 426's 'top frog.' No one listened to Lewy after the affair became a public spectacle. Fiona never told me this, but some of her advisors would talk, and Jitterbug and I heard things and kept it to ourselves."
Jitterbug sighs, "The Prince and Jacques getting together really broke Lewy's heart. But how do you think Lewy will feel about his son's death?"
Caledon joins the breakfast meeting wearing the same courtier’s outfit from the night before, although it’s seems as clean and fresh as it if had just come from the tailor.
He seats himself next to Toadstool, offering her pleasantries. “Good morning Madame, I trust you slept well.”
He keeps his meal light, taking some juice and fruit but avoids the carbohydrates. While eating the wizard keeps up a polite banter, but still seems distracted and pensive until their host arrives.
When Ragdoll mentions her intentions for spending her money he takes a moment to think.
“I’ve been traveling outside Rooftopolis for a few months, but I do some work as a consulting court wizard to the various noble families. As a result, I have some uh…familiarity with the fashionable ladies. I do not mind providing a list of recent fashion trends."
Caledon knows of the botiques on Snowberry Hill, a short walk west as Seamus mentioned. The dresses are rather pricey, however. Most are in the 50-75g range, some in the hundreds. Even clothes meant for the maids cost around 15-25g.
There are some well-made dresses for about 10g in the shopping district along Rootopolis' Gold Coast.
Toadstool replies in the tone of a princess, "I slept quite nicely, thank you. And I trust you are well-rested?" Her eyes scan Caledon's outfit. She gives a look of approval, then, seated in the posture of royalty, she eats daintily, much like a typical princess would.
Once Seamus is finished with his breakfast, he, Manny and Silkwork talk for a while. In a quiet moment between other heroes' and ex-slaves' conversations, the host addresses all of his guests.
"I'm going to help Silkworm reach out to King Lewy. I don't know him on a personal level as she and her nagaji followers do, but the ladies want to reach out to him. And certainly, Lewy does have a right to know about his son's death—" He emphasizes, "—which is the Prince's own doing. Regardless of the attack you carried for the Nelsons, the Prince became the animated dead beast others would have become, including our nagaji friends, had things gone according the Prince's plan... whatever it was."