”Yes please,” Val answers. Her typically stoic demeanor is marred by clear anxiety about something and she follows closely behind the wizard as they move below deck. Once they’re safely in Polli’s quarters she takes a deep breath and then bursts out with a barrage of rapid speech: ”So, some weird things have been happening when... well, that’s not really important I don’t think, but I noticed some weird things happening, and I thought maybe my cycle was being thrown off by using my hat so much- so I decided to take a break from wearing the hat at all; and my cycle seems fine, which is good, but... uh... I discovered, well...” Giving up on words, she drops the bulky cloak she’s wrapped in, revealing a large set of glossy black-feathered wings growing from her back.
”So... any idea what’s going on with these?”
Val follows the captains down to the docks to greet their guests. Through the magic of her armor, she appears to be wearing a dress with a puffy black skirt and a light blue corseted top that makes her light blue eyes pop. Her long black hair is done up in a complicated braid, with no hat to hide it. From her back, two large black-feathered wings grow in contrast to her fair skin. Her shortswords are sheathed somewhat inconspicuously across the small of her back. She smiles and offers whatever aid she can to her captains but leaves the talking to them.
"Oh" Polli raises her eyebrows at the wings, then starts a lengthy examination with science and magic, snapping at the other woman whenever she needs her to move or stop moving or for any other reason. Until she finally suggests "I don't think you are human, not entirely. A half breed like me and... well you understand. Angelic blood, wings, abnormal physical endowments... aasamir probably.
”You mean these are... natural?” she asks, inquisitively extending and refolding the dark wings, ”Or, natural to me, at least? Does that mean I can fly now?”
When Dony returns to her quarters one night, there is a flower pot with a plant growing in it. The pot is hand-carved wood with very little ornamentation, but as mathematically perfect as one can possibly make it.
The plant is mint, or should be mint. It is withered and limp, smells a little of cabbage somehow, a shade near death.
Next to it is a note.
Dony-
I tried to grow something and failed miserably. Turned into an analogy of me. I will try again... I promise.
-Polli
"No you are too heavy" at the resulting look she glares "Birds are small with hollow bones to be as light as possible. To fly with purly natural means is an impossibility for someone of your size without a significantly wider wingspan, and dramatically more powerful muscles." she takes off her glasses and pinches her nose "But that never stopped a dragon from taking flight. Our world defies physics on a daily basis so yes you probably will be able to fly. Now if you don't mind I need to get to work now."
Polli had gotten up and was moving toward the door with a clear indication of you can go now, but stops "No, that isn't what I was saying, but yes the meaning is the same. No I don't think you will develop the ability to fly naturally. The amount of strength needed would be beyond even Marisan... well maybe akin to Marison though still much lighter and your wings would have to grow at least... twice in length, which would make sleeping difficult. What I said is that it doesn't matter. Celestials fly with their wings all the time, and are no lighter than you, though potentially stronger. They fly because they are magical creatures and are not constrained by natural laws. Their blood is in you so since you sprouted wings in such a dramatic fashion, Yes I surmise that you will be able to fly." lecture over her head gestures to the open door.
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At the beginning there were a few nights she could be found sitting outside the door to her and Polli's cabin, hoping to hear sounds that Polli was getting better. One night, however, concerned with the lack of sound from the room Donomsail opened the door as quietly as she could and just enough to satisfy her concern about Polli, only to be surprised by the empty bed. That was the last night she spent in front of the cabin and the beginning of wandering on the deck.
When she found the plant it brought a tear to her eye, remembering what Polli had told her regarding its medicinal properties, Donomsail had only known mint in regard to its magical properties and she always enjoyed hearing Polli explain to her the practical benefits of things as well. It opened a world to her that she never knew existed and she found it such a delight.
Her first impulse was to fix the plant, make it better, using spells if necessary. But that seemed wrong to her. Polli didn't show her the plant so she could fix it, she showed her the plant so that Donomsail would know that Polli herself wasn't fixed yet, she still needed time but wasn't asking for help. As much as it hurt her Donomsail had no choice but to give her the space and time she needed. She did however write a note:
It not be yer fault that tha plant dinna grow. These things take time and mebbe a bit o' help. If'n ye be needin' or wantin' some Ah be here. If'n ye not be ready that be okay.
Love, Donomsail
The next day there is a plate stacked with pancakes in Dony's room, from The Sudsy Stacks in Port Peril, with a small pitcher of maple syrup on the side so Dony can eat them when she's ready and they don't just turn to mush.
Along with a note
Dony-
What advice would you give?
-Polli
PS: I'm not using there is a crossed-out blob here the room. You can move back in. If you wish.
"The f!*@ing fort is f&~+ing fine" Polli snaps back without thinking. Looking to Harmony (the non-combat captain) she gets a nod and starts laying into him about the dovetialing of the joists for extra strength and various other details that don't help the actual proving of strength at all. Coupled with very frequent swearing and exasperated rants about craftmanship being important, she fails to do the necessary task.
"Craftsmanship is for s$*+ when you've got an invading ship and her crew at your front door, little girl," Avimar sneers back, condescension dripping from every word. "Just what I thought. A bunch of tea drinking know-nothings."
He looks around as if trying to find someone else to talk to. "Does anyone here know what the f++! they're doing?!" he yells out.
"Val, get up to the balista. Polli - blow the boat up. Imagine Captain Avimar is on it." Harmony says, smiling a rather wicked grin at the Captain.
"Little GIRL?!?" the over seventy year old slyph looks like her head is about to pop off in fury. At Harmony's command, she says,Aye, blow the bloated windbag's boat up." the robed wizsrd takes to the air, landing on the battlements,waiting for the test to begin before unleashing fire and lightning.
dc22
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Val hurries up to the ballistae, in her pretty party dress, while the dinghy is set up for their test. When the signal is given, she quickly studies the boat and fires the ballista at it.
As the first giant bolt sails through the air, she moves to the other ballista while her crew reloads the first. When she arrives at the second contraption, she takes aim and fires again.
Racing back towards the newly reloaded first siege engine, she flips over the crew as they move to reload the second. Once she's double-checked it's alignment, she looses another bolt into the bay.
Finally, she speeds back to the second ballista just as the crew finishes reloading it. Making one small adjustment to its aim, she fires her last shot at the little boat.
Edit:
Polli calmly adjusts her robes and flings more fire down on the boat.
Avimar communicates to his ship and the preparations are made. Not fifteen minutes later, a rowboat is being pulled behind the Blood Moon.
Combat Begins!
Round 1
Valeria fires from the main tower while Polli sends a ball of fire at the small craft. The ballista bolt splashes into the water harmlessly, but the fireball hits the boat squarely on.
Round 2
Valeria's second bolt slams into the gunwale of the rowboat and pieces of shattered wood go flying just as a bolt from the sky renders the damaged boat into no more than kindling.
Combat Ends
Avimar grunts in satisfaction, not quite hiding a grin. "Now why the f&#~ didn't you lead with that?" he says to Harmony before handing her a bag with something inside. "Now where's the food?"
You lead the three captains to where the other guests have gathered at tables arranged on the small shore. With the exception of your friends from Taldor, your guests all know the newcomers. Avimar seems dismissive of most of the others, but his attention is drawn to the two women he doesn't know.
"Captain Avimar Sorrinash," he says with a toothy grin at the taller of the two women. "Lady Selli Okerra," 'Selli' replies. "And this is my friend Raven Darkblade." The man chuckles. "Well I hope to be considered a friend as well before the night's over."
"I call for drink!" Lady Bloodmourn shouts out. "I've travelled far and I have no plans to travel any more tonight so strong drink is expected! And a song. And a story. Tell us how you've managed to bring this primitive island under your sway. Or if none of you are a skilled with your tongue then you can match your blade to mine."
"Well if I'd know that Captain I'd have had you fireballed as you left your ship!" Harmony replies, accepting the bag with a smile and leading the captain towards the tables prepared.
"I suspect Captain Steele will want to cross blades with you either way Captain Bloodmourn." Harmony replies when the Lady commands a display of swordsmanship, "But I will oblige you with a story none-the-less."
With an audience to perform for, and two people in particular she wants to impress, Harmony tells the story of the island - and she does it very well. She glosses over a few parts but does so subtlely, so that the battle against the cyclops chieftain and the soul-stealing stone that empowered him is a battle of heroism and magnificent teamwork, complete with a heroic sacrifice by Captain Steele and the combined forces of her friends to save her.
Battles with dinosaurs, treaties with spirits from beyond the mortal realm and the magical beasts of the ocean all make their appearance in a tale that ends with a confrontation with a tormented spirit and a portal to another plane. She brings the tale to a close with a flourish and then bows to one and all - finishing with Selli Okerra and Raven Darkblade for some reason.
There's much cheering and clapping by all assembled when Harmony reaches the conclusion of her epic tale.
"Regardless of how much of that story is true, it is a story well told," Lady Bloodmourn says with a grin and a nod as she downs the last of her first rum of the evening. "And it deserves a reward." She tosses a well-made walking stick, crowned with a small skull to Harmony.
Captain Sorrinash seems more interested in the high quality rum and the two dark-skinned ladies than in Harmony's tale. He makes his way over to where they sit and speaks quietly with them.
As the rum begins to flow in earnest in anticipation of the first course, Meiying appears from behind the trees where the open-air kitchen has been arranged. The white-haired woman makes her way quickly to Valeria's side and leans down to whisper in the woman's ear.
As Harmony continues to converse with Lady Bloodmourn, she notices that Miss Darkblade has appeared at her side.
"Selli told me to come over here and say 'Hello'," she says with a crooked grin. "It might have had something to do with wanting to run my blade up that foul man's arse," she adds in a whisper. "But I did wish to compliment your handling of the threats you've faced. So how are you enjoying your new home?" she asks. Harmony can see that there's a lot more she'd like to say, but Lady Bloodmourn's presence requires her to be more circumspect.
"That's why you seem familiar," Cerise says with a nod and a grin as if something has just occurred to her. "I thought it was your accent which is pure Taldane. And there's no mistaking Lady Okerra - you are from Taldor, I can see that. But, you look like ..." She narrows her eyes. "You're not related to Countess Melodie d'Valois, are you?"
Val turns and softly kisses Meiying's cheek.
As the white-haired woman walks away, Val nonchalantly approaches the captains. She has every intention of sharing the issue with them telepathically, but when she hears one of the guests questioning the captain's identity she quickly changes tack. "Pardon my interruption, Cap'n," she says rather loudly as she moves to Harmony, "but the chef has a question about the next course and I fear it requires your immediate attention."
After weeks of notes and gifts evolving to short conversations, moments of hugs, and a bit of watery whimpers, Polli gets up the nerve to ask Dony "Would you... like to dance?" at the swanky pirate party.
"I'm sure Captain Steele would be delighted to give her opinion." Harmony replies. {I can't leave now, it would be rudeness almost unforgivable. You'll have to manage without me.}
"If it's a matter of taste," She adds, "Perhaps you'd best take Polli and Donomsail with you. Their palattes are far better than mine."
She turns back to her guests. "I have the honor of knowing the Countess." She replies with a smile. "You're the first person in months to place my accent, have you spent a long time there yourself? Lady, I'm sorry, Miss Darkblade is an opparan native I believe, so you two would have a lot to talk about I'm sure." She smiles, in a manner that 'Darkblade' and possibly Bloodmourn would find eerily reminiscent of the aforementioned Countess.
"As to your question Miss Darkblade, I am very much enjoying my new home. Life on the ocean is... refreshing, soothing to the soul in a manner unlike anything I've known before - although the fact that we now have a base that doesn't require my fiance contracting marriage to another woman, even a theoretical one, is an improvement." That's for all the minions you've sent to spy on me Mom! She thinks triumphantly while maintaining her bland smile. "I do intend to to return to Taldor one day - there is nowhere in the world quite like it of course, but Captain Steele holds a seat on the Pirate Council and my allegiance is with her." She turns a sardonic eye to Lady Bloodmourn, almost daring her to dispute the statement.
Cerise eyes Harmony appraisingly for a moment before taking another drink of rum. "I'm from the Vauxtiere family," she says after a moment. "We escaped from Galt into Taldor just before I was born. Father wanted me to carry on the family name and try to continue to ingratiate myself into the Taldor nobility to regain the prestige we had before ... well, before." She gestures at one of her crew for a refill and he happily obliges. "So I know what it feels like to want to leave a certain lifestyle behind." She gives Harmony a wink. "You can be whomever you wish to be here in the Shackles, though. Here I am no longer Cerise Vauxtiere, but Lady Bloodmourn!" She shouts out a cheer to two sailors who've begun to dance before turning back to her conversation partners.
"So speaking of being who you wish to be, I'm familiar with Lady Okerra, but what's your relationship with the Okerras, Miss Darkblade? I can't say that I've ever heard of you."
Raven lifts her goblet of rum and raises it towards the mentioned lady. "Who, me? I'm just her sex slave," she says with a smile before taking a sip.
Cerise sprays a mouthful of rum over the tabletop before turning and laughing at Raven's comment. "And but couldn't we all use more of those!" she says with a wide grin as she wipe her mouth with a scarf hanging from her waist.
~~~~~
Interrupting Polli and Donomsail's potential dance, Tessa and Valeria, along with Marisan, make their way back through the trees to where food is being prepared by Meiying, her assistant, and two of Audessa’s courtesans. There are a number of crates and bags of supplies stacked up in a cleared space and from it, rats are making their way forth heading towards the trees ... and the dinner guests.
Combat Begins!
Round 1
There are four large rats heading towards the trees and the cooking crew is doing their best not to scream out.
Harmony laughs as well, both the better to cover her own embarrassment at her parents and to provide a distraction since she suspects that the Captain's are going to need distracting.
"We learned a considerable amount about the island while we were defeating the cyclopes." She says. "Particularly about the original purpose of the island."
The three captains turn their attention upon Harmony, but they seem to be only partially paying attention. Raven raises a perfectly groom eyebrow questioningly as she takes another sip of her rum.
Val silently explains the situation to everyone as they move towards the outdoor kitchen. As they pass through the trees, she reaches through her illusory dress and draws her bow from her efficient quiver. {I can try to pick off the rats heading towards the beach, maybe with help from one of you, if everyone else wants to deal with the source?} Rather than wait for a plan to be finalized, she calls on aid from She of Ebon Wings and starts firing at the vermin headed for the trees.
"They are among the stores so no fire." Polli frowns (well continue to). "Support might be my best help if you want me to be quiet as well." she tells the silent captain before she casts haste on everyone.
"Bah! What good is a fight if you have to be quiet! Nothing is done quiet is better!" Tessa protests, pulling out Wayfinder to dispatch some rats.
With Doni and Marisan moving boxes, the swarm is quickly revealed. Meiying gives a panicked squeal that is quickly muffled when one of the courtesans (a blond woman named Brienne) claps a hand over her mouth. Tessa steps in under Polli's enchantment and begins stabbing at the writhing creatures in earnest. Valeria catches the few that head off towards the guests with a few well-aimed arrows and the rest of the swarm vanishes into the brush on the other side of the kitchen area.
Combat Ends!
~~~~~
"So, does being a sex slave pay well?" Cerise says with a laugh as she arranges to have her mug refilled. "It's more of a hobby than a profession," Raven replies with a grin. "Slaves don't get paid after all."
Lady Bloodmourn looks up from the conversation with a frown. "Was that a scream?"
"I think Captain Steele just found desert." Harmony says with a smile. "We managed to get one of her favorites and I was keeping it a secret. I guess it must have been out when she went out to check on the rest."
"So Lady Cerise, are you a taldan native?" She asks, before raising the ante with a grin. "Or if you'd like a more interesting question - would you prefer to be in Countess d'Valois's position, or Lady Darkblade's?"
"The Countess d'Valois?" Cerise questions with a confused look before turning to where 'Selli' sits still engaging with Avimar. "Of course!" She looks back quickly at Raven and then at Harmony. Lady Darkblade also raises a questioning eyebrow at Captain Violet.
Cerise swirls the rum around in her mug for a moment as she seems to consider her words carefully.
"Since the Countess and her wife are clearly not here and must be back in Taldor attending to their official duties, then I would say that I much prefer my own position. That position being far, far away from any courtly intrigue."
Cerise swirls the rum around in her mug for a moment as she seems to consider her words carefully.
"Since the Countess and her wife are clearly not here and must be back in Taldor attending to their official duties, then I would say that I much prefer my own position. That position being far, far away from any courtly intrigue."
Harmony returns the confused look with one of her own. "What? I'm sorry Lady Bloodmourn, I'm confused. That's Baroness Okerra, we made friends when she was in the Shackles speaking to the Hurricane King. Captain Fairwind introduced us. I was asking if you'd prefer to be the boss lady, like the Countess is - she runs Taldor for godness sake! Or whether you prefer to be on the... receiving end. Traditionally we're all meant to be the submissive, retiring wife and mother. Except we aren't. When I was growing up it was all I ever heard about, how lucky I was to be growing up in a Taldor with two women running the country. 'Look young lady. With the Emperess and the Princeps as examples you have no excuse not to be everything you can be!' and all that." She rolls her eyes with a sigh, "I heard that so often, I got quite exhausting!" She doesn't catch 'Darkblade's' eye, mostly because she's quoting her mom and doesn't need to burst out laughing.
”There’s some kind of sticky, smelly smear on this crate...” Val quietly points out. “Does anyone have any idea what it is? And, has anyone been poking around back here who shouldn’t have been?”
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Ye dinna fail, sometimes things donna work the way we wanna see 'em come about but that donna mean it be failure. Patience 'n' time, all things need ta have those in equal parts. After Ah left home 'n' moved inta the temple the Dominee Veh told me 'bout growin' flowers 'n' plants 'n' things. He said that even if a plant dinna growed that dinna mean it be a failure. If'n ye looked hard 'nough ye would see the lesson it be teachin'. Mebbe the soil be wrong or mebbe there no be water 'nough fer it. Or sometimes it be a matter of too much attention bein' paid to it. If'n things be left alone sometimes they bein' sortin' themselves out.
What I kin be sayin' fer certain is that if'n ye need help ta watch over anythin' or ta just make the trip a bit smoother Ah be here fer ye. Mebbe we kin figure things out tagether or maybe Ah kin jist console ye when things seem ta be gittin' to much fer ye.
Ye says ye needs time ta get things right in yer head again 'n' Ah unnerstand what ye be meanin' by that but lemme ask ye a question. If'n the only one ye have ta tell ye if'n things be okay is the one whose brain not be trustworthy how do ye know when everthin' be okay again?
Whatever ye be needin' I be here fer ye.
With much love,
Donomsail
PS. The pancakes be wonderful thank ye very much fer 'em 'n' Ah canna wait when we be eatin' 'em tagether again 'n' Ah no be usin' our room until we be usin' it tagether so continue ta be usin' it ta drop off notes 'n' tellin' me how ye be doin'. Ah look forward ta the day we move back in here tagether.
With heavy heart Donomsail seals the letter and leaves it on the table next to the platter and tableware cleaned of all sticky syrup traces and ready to be returned to The Sudsy Stack.
The other reason she didn't want to go was the ages old issue of she had nothing to wear. Donomsail knew that this was an affair designed to impress and none of her work wear would be relevant to that task. However once she had made up her mind to go this was a problem that was easily solved. Donomsail went to one of the other ladies on the ship, one that she felt always dressed well when the occassion called for it, and asked for help. Within just a few hours the problem was solved.
The day of the get-together started fine and when she saw Polli Donomsail resisted the urge to run over to her and give her a back breaking hug (not that she could've anyway with her spindly arms but she certainly wanted to try). The one thing that Donomsail did learn was that no matter what Polli wore it became that dress to her. Polli looked so beautiful in Donomsail's eyes that for a moment she wondered how she could ever compare but she quickly pushed that thought down, reminding herself that for whatever reason the two of them were together and would be again.
After weeks of notes and gifts evolving to short conversations, moments of hugs, and a bit of watery whimpers, Polli gets up the nerve to ask Dony "Would you... like to dance?" at the swanky pirate party.
When Polli asks her to dance Donomsail nearly drops her wine glass but manages to catch herself at the last moment. "Yes, I'd love to." She replies demurely. Placing her glass on a table she allows herself to be drawn into the circle of dancers as the orchestra started a slow dance. Holding Polli close but not to close so as not to seem to familiar or wanting to push Polli into feeling uncomfortable.
"Ah almost dinna come, mah childhood was no filled with parties or get-tagethers 'n' the only one mah unfit excuse fer a mom was interested in was the one I be tryin' ta avoid t'all costs."
Lady Bloodmourn nods with eagerness as Harmony explains away the confusion. "Of course," she says. "Lady Okerra. I've clearly had too much rum and no food so excuse the misunderstanding."
Harmony feels a hand on her shoulder and realizes that Lady Darkblade has risen from her seat and is standing next to her.
"I'm sure that ... that whoever told you that was only hoping that you would see the tremendous potential that ... that they saw in you. Was hoping that you would see that the only limit to what you accomplish is the limits you put upon yourself." She meets Harmony's gaze for a moment before turning and giving a nod to Cerise. "And as much as I've enjoyed our little chat, I feel that my Mistress needs rescuing from a certain Free Captain, so I'm off." She nods her head in both of your directions. "Ladies."
With that, she glides back over to where Lady Okerra is chatting with Avimar.
~~~~~
A few moments later and Audessa's courtesans begin bringing out the first course of the meal to many cheers. The rest of the Sirens return from the kitchen to join the rest of the party as well.
Harmony finds Captain Darimar sitting next to her.
"So what do you think of the island Captain?" Harmony asks, striking up conversation. "It's quite the oddity, between the bays, the mountains and the plain - you'd never expect such diversity in such a small area, and have I mentioned the dinosaurs? They're the most adorable things - I'm working on a way of domesticating them so we can rear them as a sustainable population."
Darimar nods as Harmony goes on about the island. "And am I mistaken, or have I seen an actual nereid in the bay?" he asks.
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Polli is a bit distracted by the gentle slope of crimson between niddly ear and decidant shoulder of one Donomsail Lishoni. "Um... what? Smell, no idea" She announces after barely looking
"There is that dance, we could... um" she brushes her hand against Dony's arm, like she wants to take her hand but isn't sure if she should. And then the music stops "Oh f!*&ing hells I will make them..." she turns to go yell at the musicians until they start playing again but stops "important night, don't be Polli" she turns back, "We could sit together at dinner if you wanted to."
Donomsail smiles wide at the invitation to sit next to Polli. "We might be messin' up the seatin' charts." She says and starts to chuckle, "but Ah'm willin' ta take that chance if'n ye be." Her arm raises as she starts to put her hand on Polli's shoulder but Donomsail catches herself just in time. Her solution isn't much better as, instead she unconsciously rubs her finger tips lightly up and down Polli's arm, barely felt, just a whisper of how much she misses her.
Val hides her disappointment at Polli’s cursory inspection of the strange substance, but the joy she feels at seeing the magic nerds finding their way back together is almost enough to make her forget about the lackluster effort. Sliding her bow back into her hidden quiver, she steals a deep, lingering kiss from Meiying then hurries back to the crowd to eat.
“Does anyone have any idea what it is? And, has anyone been poking around back here who shouldn’t have been?”
Meiying and the others in the kitchen area shake their head. "We haven't seen anyone here that shouldn't be," the pale woman declares. She accepts Valeria's kiss with a grin and waves her away so she can return to her job.
Darimar nods as Harmony goes on about the island. "And am I mistaken, or have I seen an actual nereid in the bay?" he asks.
"You have actually." Harmony replies. "It took a while but we managed to establish peaceful contact and I'm pleased to report that not a single sailor has been drowned. I attribute that to the fact that we are careful to respect the boundaries she requested." And the fact that she's as bent as a customs official - or an officer on the Siren. She thinks, but keeps the second thought strictly to herself.
"It took a while but we managed to establish peaceful contact and I'm pleased to report that not a single sailor has been drowned. I attribute that to the fact that we are careful to respect the boundaries she requested."
"Well, I'd feel honored to meet her if that could be arranged," Darimar says with a rare smile.
As the first course is presented and everyone tucks in to the large bowls of clam chowder that are passed around. Lady Okerra takes her leave of Avimar to take her place at a different table with Lady Darkblade. The man seems to not miss her company too much as his interest is taken up by Audessa serving him his food. "You're a comely lass, why don't you join me for a bit."
She smiles diplomatically in response. "There are other guests to serve, Sir." He grumbles a bit, but digs in to the food in front of him.
The food is good, but ...
Polli loves soup, all kinds in truth but seafood chowders or gumbos are a true delight. And she's sitting next to Dony again, after a long glaring fist curling 'PLEASE' to the sailor assigned to that location getting him to be polite and leave.
Darting looks at the pretty lady, with a tenative smile, between sips and slurps, she notices the shift as the rumble burbles from her belly. Looking at the soup, she places her hand on the other's arm. "something is wrong, stop eating that. How do you feel?"
Val happily enjoys her soup, blissfully unaware of the effect its having on others. Until, that is, she notices the discomfort growing on several of the guests faces. When she overhears Polli tell Dony to stop eating she silently asks, {What's going on Polli, and how do we fix it?}
Val silently passes the sylph's message along to the other officers, then adds to Harmony, {You may have to make an excuse to explain Avimar's need of healing.} Looking around the table, she carefully checks for anyone who hasn't eaten at all, or who seems to be behaving at all suspiciously.
the slayer politely excuses herself from the table to go check on the second course. Once back in the kitchen area, she takes the time to study each person in the area and question them about whether they've sabotaged anything or seen anyone else in the area.
"some kind of poison, or just bad clams." she sniffs the food, touches it with the tip of her tongue.