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Beorn eyes Pollux. Well I have considered it now and then. Perhaps putting one's sanity in a box for a while can be relaxing.
Eyeing the others words and antics, Merelda realized they were either trying to help too, or were all really insane. Probably both!
"I'm going to go check on the pretty girl behind the bar again, and that idiot bartender. See if she can talk with some sort of words that make more sense."
She saunters back to Sasha, and hooks a thumb over her shoulder at 'the group' and closes one eye as she speaks.
"That group speculates there is some sort of faerie wiggling around the place causing trouble. While it 'could' be possible, any idea why they would think that? I don't see any direct indication of it..."
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Variel spins around as Litsy arrives announcing her presence. Oh, hey Litsy. I was talking to Merelda here. She has no idea what is going on here either.
Variel was clearly talking about Litsy and Pollux. Based on his look it was not complementary.
Yes I am thinking either a fey creature or something akin to a pseudodragon. It fits what is going on here and hopefully with Beorn able to communicate with it we can figure out what it wants.
Sasha's eyes widen in revelation at Merelda's remarks. "That'd explain a bit," she replies, and nods to Ron at the other end of the bar, still rubbing his eyes.
"I found him fast asleep back there, probably put that way by a spell. He says it's happened before, so it's probably not that crew," at that, she gestures to the others. "And honestly this place has been too much of a madhouse tonight to be natural."
Variel spins around as Litsy arrives announcing her presence. Oh, hey Litsy. I was talking to Merelda here. She has no idea what is going on here either.
Litsy snorts. "Tell me something I don't know."
"Wait wait. You're telling me Beorn's talking with this thing in his head?" She stares at the bard incredulously, sighs, and rubs her temples. " Nothing surprises me any more. Fine. You sure you haven't had one too many?"
"I've got no f~!@ing clue what a pseudodragon is - aren't dragons supposed to be huge? But what the hell - how do we catch it? Or kill it-we'll see how it goes."
If this fellow can hide very well, perhaps we can acquire magic that can let us detect it. Alas I have none of that available.
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Actually Litsy, dragons I believe the smallest and youngest dragons are our size or maybe just a bit larger. However, as they age, they get larger and larger. A dragon never stops growing in size. If this is a pseudodragon, or fairie dragon, then it would be about the size of a cat. At this point I am not sure what is the best option between capture, kill, or befriend it.
Beorn, I know of no magic that I am capable of using that would allow me to find something or someone so hidden. Do you know of anything that you or Pollux could use?
Getting up off the floor Ron takrs a look outside and glowers, "Been a lot longer than an hour. Dammit."
Stepping out to the bar he take an appraising gaze over the rowdy crowd. By now at least three different songs are veing sung, six people unconscious or moaning on the floor from brawl related injuries, and there's been enough minor damage to the establishment to make an insurance agent blanch.
Putting two sausage fingers in his mouth Ron let's out a practiced shrull whistle that pierces through the din and cuts short thought befotr roaring iver the crows, "LAST CALL! FINISH YOUR BUSINESS, GET OFF MY FLOOR, AND GET OUT! DON'T HAVE TO GO HOME BUT YOU BETTER LEST YOU WANT THE DOTTARI TO GIVE YOU A BED IN THE DUNGEON!"
As some people wisely start to leave and others make ready to leave or drag their friends Ron turns to Sasha and sighs, "Right you get double your cut for the night for the triuble. Make sure the elf gets a cut too, gods only know why she even got involved, weird foreign business that is. But I won't be called unfair in this."
If I can spot them, I could try an enchantment that will render them helpless with laughter, but that is it.
Litsy groans -from Beorn's statement or from the innkeeper's yelling, there's no way of telling. Possibly both.
"Brilliant. Guess we've found f&+$ all tonight."
She notices the innkeeper talking with the elven woman and the barmaid, but is too far away to overhear their conversation. "Think there'll be enough of an inn left standing for us to come back tomorrow nd try to catch the thing?"
Sasha takes her due from the till and looks for Merelda. In truth she hadn't been certain about following through with the Elf's inquiry for tales of the city, but after the past few hours she could use a drink, if there was a place still open and quiet — or quiet, at least.
She notices Pollux standing with the rest of the group and arches an eyebrow. She'd had had that one pegged as creepy loner, but turns out she was only half right. "So Yellow's with that group?" she asks Merelda. "They don't seem like the usual crowd, either."
Merelda nods, and waves off the offer of a monetary share.
“Yeah: I’m both creeped out and intrigued all at the same time. If I didn’t know better I’d call them ‘adventurers’ or something similar. But they really don’t look like the dungeons and tomb raider types in the end. And…I’m pretty sure one of them is a witch. I got hit with ‘the Evil Eye’ a bit earlier. It’s very uncomfortable but not overwhelmingly dangerous.”
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Variel shakes his head in frustration, You're right Litsy. Nothing gained too much tonight but hopefully tomorrow will be better. If nothing tomorrow then we need to broaden our search for what seems to be troubling people here. We may also need to approach the captains of the different ships to see if they know of anything.
Either at the bar or on the way home.
"Hmmm. Seeking others to provoke meaningless violence. Singing. Removing authority figures. Attempting to make Castor look like a cheat. Yes I know but they were trying to make you look bad at it."
Pollux stops suddenly. "It's bored. It is new to the area, to this bar at least and it want's more excitement. We can offer it excitement. Ripping teeth out, smashing salt workers heads open, fighting giant lizards, killing the Mayor, singing. We should recruit it."
The moon eating gaze turns to Opera.
...They said they were leaving...
"And you believed them? If they had somewhere to be they would not be in a bar where they let Castor bathe in the Ale." "I know you didn't really. It would be bad for your fur... Ok well maybe a little. It is a good clean. Just not too often or you'll get split ends."
A good point. I guess this madness thing can be very useful! Let us open our minds and let all sorts of ideas in. I am sure our brains will make a fine sieve to keep the bad ideas away.
Sasha's take for the night comes out to 3 gold and 2 silver. Not the greatest take of any night but a fair bit better than most.
Ron takes it upon himself to serve the last few drinks and begin the exhaustive process of putting things away removing garbage both human and mundane from his tavern.
"Recruit it? Are you mad? Don't answer that either."
Litsy sighs, and looks lost in thought. "We don't even know what to offer it to hire it. Or catch it. Whatever. Or how to stop it from becoming invisible. Maybe we'll need some magic." \
Seeing that Ron is still hanging around, she takes this opportunity to walk out to him and tap him on the arm. She can't reach his shoulder.
"Hey, barkeep. Quite a rowdy night you've had here! Been a long time since it got that way, or are those brawls a recent thing?"
As out of place as she seems in this inn, she looks genuinely friendly. Compassionate, even. You typically got people to talk if you showed compassion. Nothing loosens someone's tongue like showing interest in their little troubles. " Those are some pretty big bags under your eyes -I take it it's been a while, eh? How did it start?"
Litsy, did you get a good look at the prankster?
Litsy answers Beorn's question before slipping away to speak with Ron: "If by 'good look' you mean 'saw it right before that f@%$er went invisible again', then yeah. Green lizardy thing, about as big as a cat, except it had wings like a- like an insect or stuff. The kind of wings you can see through? Oh, and it was snickering like a bastard while it f@~@ed about."
"Why- you wanna make 'WANTED' flyers?"
No. Perhaps we can find out who and what they are. A little reading up can help a lot.
"We know more than we know." The stranger seems to be concentrating on something. " it wants music," Pollux looks at Beorn. "it understands humor." Pollux turns to Tiny. " its mind seems as limited as any apothecary in the city." "We can understand it. If we can understand it we can make suppositions." The yellow coat begins to pace drawing Pollux along with it.
"It wants music.....it wants....it understands the idea of valuing external things." "Mr. Smiley says it is a dragon. Shelyn says a winged lizard, Opera that it talks in his head. Magic...Magic talking lizard...Dragon or close enough." Pollux stops suddenly and address no one. "Both Dragons and lizards nest. Dragons are known for it......So it nests and it understands the value of external things. It has a horde or at least a home. We find that and it will come to us."
Pollux sits on the floor pulls a clearly rat-bitten leek out of a pocket and crunches down on the allium.
"We should search. It might not be here but here is closer."
I could sing more of the songs it likes certainly. They asked for some fighting songs.
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Excellent observations but we may have to put the search on hold till tomorrow. We don’t want to be caught outside snooping around for the authorities to arrest us. Perhaps we can talk to the friendly barmaid and she will let us in to search for the culprit. And I mean the real barmaid, not the one harassing Beorn or threatening the patrons or causing a riff with Litsy.
Variel will start to head home with the idea that they come back in the morning to meet with Sasha as an in to investigate during day hours.
Merelda smirks at the leaving group, and leans backward against the bar, audibly popping her spine and sighing at the relief.
”Can’t say the evening wasn’t interesting can we? Ok…you owe me some stories I think! However, I’m beat. How about we meet tomorrow before your shift? Unless you need a place to stay tonight…?”
Her smirk slides into a Lascivious smile with obvious meaning, but her overture is obviously half-hearted at best.
Beorn looks at Variel. Perhaps there are more people that we can invite?
Beorn nods to the two women. The barmaid and the saucy wench.
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Variel sees the 2 that Beorn is hinting at and shakes his head no. ARe you sure about this?I mean we don't even know them and the one was threatening Litsy and you. We konw nothing about either of them. At least ask around about them or talk to them directly before we invite them into our group.
Variel will wait and watch Beorn go talk to the women in case they decide to hog tie him and kidnap him.
Beorn walks over to the two newcomers. Pardon me, considering the strange events tonight, we could discuss what has happened and find the source of the problems. Would either of you be willing to meet us tomorrow at another tavern where there are fewer prying ears?
Merelda smiles tiredly then reaches out and casually tugs on the big man's beard.
"If that is a proposition, it lacks some merit my woolly friend. I haven't done such a large group together in years...OOOhhh! You mean 'TALK' about the faerie infestation? Well, sure...I guess. Unfortunately I am here in the city for my own reasons, and not having much luck at finding the targets of my search."
She smiles broadly and leans backward again, emphasizing both her 'benefits' to society. The sharp iron spikes on her leather armor juggle nicely. Her spine pops lightly again as she sighs and then frowns.
"Of course if the people I were looking for were easily found, then I'm not sure I would want to find them in the first place."
She thinks for a second and looks askance at the pretty barmaid.
"I have a plan to meet someone in the morning I think...but as long as your meeting doesn't interfere, I don't mind discussing eliminating this bar's threat. Although I think the ale here should be used as deadly weapons in Belkzen against the orcs hordes if you asked me. Even that scum wouldn't drink this swill."
Beorn smooths his beard back into place. Perhaps we could offer assistance as a gesture of goodwill. If there is someone you are looking for, we could assist in locating them.
Merelda smiles wickedly.
”Maybe. Or maybe not beard -boy. We will see. Worse that can happen is we all die in the process. Right?”
Sasha finishes counting her coins and dividing them between herself and Merelda. "I need some sleep, I think," she says, at her suggestion.
"There are a couple of places I know that would be quieter than this place to talk in the morning. But I'd feel bad leaving Ron to keep being tormented by this thing … even if he was mostly useless tonight."
We can go elsewhere to figure out a plan of action against this pest. A few hours of absence would be reasonable.
Smirking tiredly, Merelda tugs on Beorn’s beard more gently.
“Bargained well beard-boy. We will meet tomorrow…and then we hunt! We can discuss my ‘fee’ for services later…”
She then stares in his eyes and slowly closes hers, then opens them slowly revealing an honest smile of interest.
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To answer tiny's question the man simply shakes his head, "Just a long night of hard work. You'll understand when you're older." Before Ron returns to cleaning tables and picking up stray cups as a way of dismissing her.
As agreements are reached and curfew fast approaches the group files out of the bar to return to their respective homes and hideouts. Ron locks up shortly thereafter taking care to make sure it's secure before he too returns to his own home. As he does so an iridescent flickering escapes through a rathole to continue its ineffable business.
Pulling her hood over her ears she ducks into an alleyway to avoid a particularly large pack of club yieldong youths when a voice above her tears her out of her reverie.
"I'm not sure what to make of the newcomers. The barmaids nice enough I guess. The opera singers alright but I think his tastes are a little bland. But you, you could be fun."
Standing still and keeping her calm, Merelda's surprise pushes her tiredness away with a natural adrenaline spike.
"Oh yesssss da'hling. I am the MOST fun of all! I can guarantee THAT. The barmaid does looks delicious, but don't think too badly of Beard-boy...he's a head-strong romantic with a head full of fluff. I plan to break that habit quickly if I can."
She slowly looks upward smiling broadly, and with her hands in sight but still near-enough to her various weapon hilts.
"So...what kind of fun did you have in mind?"
Litsy saunters back from her conversation with the barkeep with a disappointed look on her face. "He knows f$$! all. Or he doesn't want to speak to me. My money's on both."
She shrugs, and puts her hands in her pockets (by the Hells, do these even have a bottom?). "Guess we've been about as useful as a haircut to a Hellknight. So we go back to your place?" This last question is to Variel. Apparently, she's not ready to give up her spot on his couch and return to her gang any time soon.
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As perched above is a mighty and terrible green dragon staring down on her in that way cats stare at a mouse with an injured leg. She blinks, and as her reason catches up with her instinct she notices that while indeed she's lookong at a dragon the proportions are very much off for the kind of terror such a sight would illicit. The spear like claws are more like toothpicks. The maw of swords probably wouldn't do more than give you a nasty gash. In fact this mighty iridescent green dragon, with butterfly wings reminiscent of a black swallowtail, could probably make a group of mice flee in terror if it put real effort into it but not much else. At least it was cat sized perched as it was on the gutter above.
Looking slightly taken aback the faerie dragons wings fold slightly.
"Well not that kind of fun. You want one of those silver dragons they're the ones prone to bestiality the degenerates. No, no, no, nonononono, what I was thinking was a lot less sticky and more, uh, dramatic. My current lair is a pale compatison compared to the laughter and passion of the old one and it's just not as entertaining. Plus the rat quality is frankly terrible, wharf rats are greasy from all the swimming, I hate having to hunt so far away but it's better than tasting rotting fish for a week. Oh but what am I doing? I'm being incredibly rude! I am Vendalfek the mightiest dragon in Kintargo until a slightly bigger one comes along."
"It is my ultimate pleasure to meet a Dragon such as yourself Vendalfek 'the Mighty' of Kintargo! And..I assure you, that my interest in you is limited to viewing your beautiful green-scales, and amazing wings! You know...someone in the bar earlier mentioned something of Fairies. I can only assume they meant you, although you shouldn't take that as an insult. It is a compliment to your skills at hiding in plain sight that only one or two managed to only get a glimpse of you!"
She steps back up to the wall, looking up pleasantly.
"I'm still fairly new to Kintargo good Vendalfek, but this is one of the largest cities around on this side of the continent. I'm sure if we put our heads together we could find you a new residence of some sort in only a short time."
A sudden thought occurs to Merelda, and a mischievous grin takes over her face.
"In the mean-time...how would you like to help me play a prank on my new 'boring' friends? And maybe even make a few coins out of it too? You have the stealth and magic, and I can play my part easily enough. The look on their faces...OH...this is gonna be so MUCH fun."
Merelda giggles girlishly and covers her mouth at the strange sound.
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Beorn hummed to himself as they left the tavern and started on their separate ways. One of the newcomers was hard to read but the other lady was quite the firecracker.
Now despite what many thought, Beorn wasn't THAT naive about such matters but preferred to do such things a certain way. It quite often was seen as being utterly dense, but Beorn pondered penning a few ribald songs that Merelda might enjoy when they were amongst the bar patrons.
Beorn hummed a little more and whispered A few lines of a small jingle
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Variel clapped Litsy on the back as they started heading home. Always Tiny. You are always welcome, and you know that. In the morning though it won't be all pastries and sweet foods like you have gotten accustomed to. Its clear to anyone watching them that Variel smiled a bit easier and walked with chin held a bit higher when it was apparent that Tiny still wanted to be with him. With all of the new people that she was getting to know, a part of him is always worried that she won't need him any longer.
"I had something in mind I thought you could help me with on those lines. Maybe there is something to this fate mess the Arodenites won't shut up about. But please, do tell!"
Its clear to anyone watching them that Variel smiled a bit easier and walked with chin held a bit higher when it was apparent that Tiny still wanted to be with him. With all of the new people that she was getting to know, a part of him is always worried that she won't need him any longer.
"Then what are you waiting for? Buy some," Litsy mumbles, pretending not to enjoy Variel's affection -and failing miserably at doing so.
After getting some actual sleep, Merelda headed early toward the planned meet-up with this strange Kintargo group, as well as the cute barmaid with the pretty hair. When the others see her she appears mildly worried and disheveled, as the others see her and approach. She requests a mild hiatus on discussing the situation at the bar until everyone shows up and only then begins her explanation.
“As some of you may have guessed by now, I have a connection to a goddess. For safety, yours and mine, I will not mention her name at all here in case locals are listening that should not be. Now...I am no cleric or paladin, goddess forbid, but I do have more access than your average parishioner to my goddess. Last night she sent me a message while I slept!”
She turns away for a moment, almost clumsy in her movements. She looks out a window, but keeps speaking.
”As some of you may have glimpsed, the entity infecting the bar appears to be a large lizard with almost faerie-like wings. These creatures are referred to in the academic world as faerie dragons. However, the goddess has revealed to me the creature’s TRUE nature. The dragon is undead...an ancient spirit, as well as a powerful sorcerer in his own right.”
She then turns back to the group, a determined but serious look upon her face.
“I don’t know exactly why the spirit is here now, or why it has taken to this bar for its lair...maybe all the death and unrest in Kintargo has awoken it, or maybe the bar was build on its old nesting area: Who knows for sure? Regardless, the creature’s pranks and jokes are normal for living versions of these dragons, but that might not last. Its darker powers are only going to tempt the creature to use them later as it grows bored and time passes. So...I have a plan.”
She looks as Sasha, and smiles gently.
”A gnome monk of Pharasma once taught me an old Varisian ritual. It acts as a way to interact safely with the spirits still in our world and force basic communication. Its risky, but I’m hoping the dragon’s natural curiosity will play to our benefit. Then...we can find out what it wants, and maybe convince it to go back to move on to somewhere safer. I really don’t want to have to fight such a thing. Defeating it is possible I feel, but it won’t be fun in the least. What say you all? I would need the group’s full cooperation, as well as the bar’s owner. If successful, and if we don’t make thing worse, it shouldn’t take long and we can probably have this all taken care of...before the first idiot patrons arrive to drink the bar’s swill.”
Her mouth twists at the end in a fierce smirk. She just can’t help herself, when it comes to her feeling on bad food and drink…
Litsy rubs her temples. She seems more worn out than usual-a bit paler, certainly. There are bags under her eyes.
"You sure you didn't have one too many? I've heard a lot of bullshit, but 'it came to me in a dream' is a first."
She stares at Merelda for a long time, before sighing, and shaking her head. "Mental as you are, we do need to capture it. So -what might this ritual be?"
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Beorn's mind reels under the horrid truth! He staggers about and looks for a fainting couch before he is forced to fall to his kneels and let loose a soundless cry to the heavens!
The look on Litsy's face as Beorn falls dramatically to his knees is one of utter bewilderment. "You know she's bullshiting us, right?" She glances at Variel. "Wha-you weren't ready to believe her? It doesn't even make sense!I've seen the stuff, it didn't look undead!"
"And come on - an undead dragon fairy? What's next, little mice that steal your teeth and leave a penny ?"
Shaking her head sadly, Merelda looks at Litsy.
"I understand your reluctance, FEAR of the undead is healthy. But we cannot shy away from our duty to protect the populace!"
Walking over to Beorn, Merelda gently pulls him up with a gentle tear in her eye that wasn't there before, and tugs on his beard gently.
"Your concern is mighty Beard-boy! I respect that. I truly do! You must care for Kintargo and its people from the deepest cockles of your heart? Maybe even the sub-cockle area too?"
She gently wipes away his tears with a handkerchief that she pulls from her sleeve. She then turns back to the others, her arm suddenly through Beorns and resting comfortably there.
"Only...worry not! For I am here to guide you through this troubling time. My goddess must have led me to you gentle folk with the knowledge we need to...hopefully...defeat this draconic nightmare. Are you with me? I will of course need to gather some supplies...not TOO expensive I think here..."