"I don't know if I will be able to, given your skill, but I shall give it a try." the half-elf says with a smile.
Almost immediately the bard's lute strings break, embarrassing him greatly. He mutters under his breath something rather uncomplimentary about the effects of the swamp on one of the tools of his trade.
"My apologies...it appears that my instrument is a bit worse for wear."
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With a blush as his rather cash poor circumstances, Khalil smiles and nods his relieved thanks at Willow's offer. Only to realize after hearing Nuruk's words the mistake he'd made even being worried about gold or silver. The lapse was a sure sign of just how tired and muddled his mind really was. He sighs. What's done is done. Might as well enjoy the comforts while we can.
He follows Vashrin up the stairs. Opening the door to his room his looks on in amazement and wonder. Color filled the room. Or rather the open meadow that greets him as he steps inside. Golden-green grass of late summer shifts in a soft breeze while meadowlarks and blackbirds sing to a setting sun. Steam rises merrily from a warm spring surrounded by lillies and a rainbow of blooming nasturtiums. The waters of the spring reflect fiery reds, oranges, and yellows of the setting sun. Near the spring are two leafy aspen trees, their silver-white bark almost glowing in the evening sun.
The druid breathes deep, taking in the scent of late summer with it crisp dry air and the smell of harvest ready fruits and grains. Undressing he slides into the spring, the warm waters smelling of minerals that ease his muscles and soak the past days tensions away. Laying his head back he watches the fire in the sky slowly fade to deeper reds, blues, indigo, and finally a star filled infinite expanse where six constellations float overhead in twinkling brilliance. Familiar patterns, but changed. More defined. The willow now reflects a tiefling's grace and beauty, the gambler, somehow seems to portray Sammy's quiet certitude. The forgotten one, no longer forgotten at all, as it twinkles brightly upon that black canvas. The stars shimmer and gleam giving them a near constant motion so reflective of a faithful dog and his wild mistress. The twins are sadly still broken, but the one grows ever closer. A soft light glows in the constellation's heart, the love, strength and courage that will see his vow fulfilled. And finally, the bold and powerful knight. Sword and shield held high. Those stars have moved closer to the tiefling, where the two now dance across the sky in friendship and maybe something more.
His head resting upon the warm stone, his body floating in the spring. Khalil smiles. The story of the stars no longer a mysterious lost longing, but a tale of friendship and honor and striving to do right and good in the world. For other constellations now drift upon the outer rim of the sky. A frightened centaur, given hope. An elderly couple, surrounded by motes of meteor light like bees zipping by. A great hill topped by a tiny goblin surrounded by a gleaming cluster of magical lights. Khalil wonders what each star in that magical cluster might hold or open. A fiery light streaks across the entire night sky, Sir Talaver hurries to warn the Summer Queen.
But most surprising of all is another group of stars slowly rising above the horizon. A simple shape. A man. Once alone, leaning upon a staff, a floppy hat upon his head. The stars sing to him and in return he tells their story. Keeps their light shining even in a land trapped in darkness and gloom.
Relaxed in the spring, Khalil softly snores, drifting upon the night sky and the warm waters of the inn.
Though it's difficult to surprise a fairy with mundane tricks, Sam tries to amuse everyone with some nice cartomancy. Guessing cards, shuffling and getting what he's told and all kinds of things that rely purely on skill rather than magic. He smiles and plays some innocent pranks, always careful not to hurt anyone's feelings but happy to dig out some laughs.
All in all, a show to be enjoyed both by him and the public. After the show, some nice dinner and a good glass of brandy, Sam goes to sleep happy.
To his surprise, his room contains all the elements he would have ever considered necessary in the room of his dreams. A nice and solid table with a green mat and several decks of cards - that always helps him relax. A cozy bed, with just the proper amount of bedclothes and pillows. A nice bronce bath full of steaming water and all kinds of soaps and herbs. A platter of snacks - mostly dried fruit and sweets. And the cherry on top, something he knows he wants even though he's never seen it before: a device on the ceiling consisting of three wooden blades constantly spinning, thus producing a happy little breeze that comfortably chills his skin after the hot bath.
Excellent!
"I don't know if I will be able to, given your skill, but I shall give it a try." the half-elf says with a smile.
Almost immediately the bard's lute strings break, embarrassing him greatly. He mutters under his breath something rather uncomplimentary about the effects of the swamp on one of the tools of his trade.
"My apologies...it appears that my instrument is a bit worse for wear."
The halfling woman smiled and touched her finger to Vash's lute, and the string magically repaired itself. "Looks right as rain to me! Do you know this one?" She began playing one of his favorite tunes, and Vash joined in with ease, finding the sound of his lute somehow more vibrant than before.
Some of you were ruled by hunger, others by hygiene, but at some point before sleep takes you, you spend some time in the common room, either together or separately. The kenku approaches with a menu, placing it in front of you. "I'll have what he's having!" the bird man squawked. You were reminded of Kettlesteam for obvious reasons, but Order Up, as Tsu had named him, had a deeper timbre to his voice.
After a time, Willow returns to the common room, her hip-length hair hanging loose and still damp from bathing. She wears clean clothes now: a deep plum tunic with elbow-length, draped sleeves over close-fitting black pants that are tucked into calf-high black boots.
The silver caps she wears over the tips of her horns sparkle in the firelight--even those were freshly cleaned--and her holy symbol of The Dreamwalker hangs loosely around her neck, untucked from its usual position within her shirt collar.
Willow seems far less tense than she had been their entire journey, taking a seat at a table near the fireplace and stage and thanks the kenku quietly as she picks up the menu and looks through it.
"Sucker Punching a Rabbit?" She muses, furrowing her brows. "I...need to try that. And some spicy jambalaya. Extra spicy?" She asks hopefully.
"Thank you!" the half-elf bard says, genuinely happy to have his instrument back in good repair. Gleefully he plays along with the halfling woman, simply enjoying the brief respite from his worries.
He is careful to avoid any mirrors, gods know he wouldn't want to ruin the mood with what his reflection brings about.
When the kenku comes by with the menu, the bard waits to finish the current tune before briefly perusing the bill of fare. "Hmmm...I believe the jambalaya sounds good and a glass of that cave fisher bloodwine."
His order in, the half-elf formerly known as - and hopefully to be known as again - Vashrin, turns his attention back to the halfling woman.
"I trust you know this one." he says going into another song.
After the song is done, the young half-elf stands up and bows to the halfling bard. [b]"Quite exquisite, m'lady." he says with a broad grin. "Is there anything I can do for you in repayment for fixing my lute?"
Willow rushes up to Vash excitedly, gesturing toward the roof of the first floor. "They have a hoop here!" She exclaims, eyebrows raising. "You play something; I show off? A little improvisation?" She bounces onto the balls of her feet in an almost childlike manner, obviously eager to perform.
"Of course." the bard says with a smile. "Not having seen your act before, what sort of tempo are are yo looking for? I suppose I could just wing it and adjust based on your movements."
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"Something a little fast is good, but you should definitely change it up. Keep me on my toes."
Whenever Vash is ready, Willow will remove her boots and then make a bid to the crowd for attention. Once there are some eyes on them and Vashrin begins to play, Willow will swing up and mount the lyra in one swift movement, flowing to the music as though she had practiced this particular song her entire life.
Vashrin wanders over to the area with the hoop and waits for a break in the halfling bard's performance so that the maximum amount of eyes will be on Willow's performance.
As the tiefling mounts the lyra, the half-elf bard begins with a slower tempo song that quickly transitions to an up-tempo number better fitting Willow's movements.
Vashrin's song while passable, isn't his best work as he is mesmerized by the graceful tiefling's movements on and around the hoop.
Order Up brings drinks for Karley and Willow, setting Willow's on the saddle of the stage until her performance is over. "I'm so drunk!" the kenku squawks. It's served in the largest mug you have ever seen, so big Karley has to hug it, and has a single tea bag floating inside...along with enough alcohol to knock over a bull.
Karley listens to the old woman, who explains she is -not-an old woman. She was a beautiful young noble who asked Bavlorna to help her find love. The hag cursed her so she falls in love with anyone she sees -- but is so hideous, that the target of her affections finds her repellent. Once the target of her affections leaves her sight, her feelings fade and and the curse resets to the next person she lays eyes on. "So I wear a blindfold. Better to see nothing than suffer constant heartache. The only way to break the curse is for someone to fall in love with me... and that's not likely to happen."
The halfling bard is talented beyond anything you have seen. Her performance somehow lifts Vash's, harmonizing with him, both of them making Willow's dance even more mesmerizing. Almost every eye in the Inn is on the show, and wild applause follows it.
"Ellywick Tumblestrum," the halfling introduced herself, all smiles. "A pleasure to meet you!"
Eventually, Khalil's grumbling stomach manage to pull the man from the comforts of the mineral spring and the wide open sky that is his 'room' in this remarkable inn. Skin still flushed from his long soak, Khalil dresses and makes his way back downstairs into the mild chaos that is the common room.
"I'll have a pint of the Bog Grog and the Cave Fisher." He says when Order Up come around to where he sits watching Willow and Vashrin. While waiting for his order, he can't help but notice the young dryad sitting in her flower pot. Seeing that she at least appears to be one of the few patrons not currently engaged in some conversation or activity, he tips his hat to her.
"Hello, miss." He says in greeting. His eyes can't help but track the odd naked man swinging from the chandelier. "My names Khalil. I...uh...just arrived here. I couldn't help but notice you seem a bit more subdued than most folk here. Is there something wrong or that I might be able to help you with?"
His head swings back and forth in rhythm with the chandelier, until he finally pulls his gaze away feeling a bit seasick by the motion. "And...do you have any idea why he's doing that?" He says tilting his head in the naked mans direction.
Willow dismounts from the hoop with a flourish, bowing to the crowd, then claps for Vashrin and Ellywick gratefully. She moves over to pick up her drink, and one whiff of it has her holding it out in front of her, regarding it with a mixture of awe and terror. "Alright then," She mutters, taking a long pull from the mug before nodding graciously at Ellywick Tumblestrum. "Willow Breakbough. I can't smile, but it is a pleasure. Thank you for the accompaniment," she says, gesturing widely to both her and Vashrin, "Both of you! It's been a couple of weeks since I've performed."
"Hello, miss." He says in greeting. His eyes can't help but track the odd naked man swinging from the chandelier. "My names Khalil. I...uh...just arrived here. I couldn't help but notice you seem a bit more subdued than most folk here. Is there something wrong or that I might be able to help you with?"
His head swings back and forth in rhythm with the chandelier, until he finally pulls his gaze away feeling a bit seasick by the motion. "And...do you have any idea why he's doing that?" He says tilting his head in the naked mans direction.
The dryad rolls her eyes. A small sapling grows in the flowerpot she's seated on the edge of. "He always does that. It's so annoying. I hate this place. Everyone here is the worst. " She crosses her arms and sulks.
Khalil's food and drink soon arrive. Cave fisher, it seems, is a type of lobster, and one bite tells him the stuff has marinated in alcohol that didn't all cook off. It's got a kick to it. The Bog Grog seems to be a mixture of orange juice, rum, and some kind of fermented herbs that float on the surface giving it a swampy look.
"Alright then," She mutters, taking a long pull from the mug before nodding graciously at Ellywick Tumblestrum. "Willow Breakbough. I can't smile, but it is a pleasure. Thank you for the accompaniment," she says, gesturing widely to both her and Vashrin, "Both of you! It's been a couple of weeks since I've performed."
Ellywick beamed. "You're quite skilled, and I mean that. I've been around and seen a lot, few folks can wander into a tavern and do that." She glanced up as the monkey man was getting more boisterous. "Excuse me a moment." She strode over underneath the chandelier-swinging menace, and began a lullaby-like tune.
"When you haven't got time to eat,
Uzip a banana...
When you fancy a fruity treat,
Unzip a banana..."
As her song continued, the man hopped down, falling into an unfortunate squat, but Ellywick led him with her melody to a corner that seemed to be his nest. She handed him the fruit in question and he made himself comfortable and ate his bedtime snack.
Gladly accepting the food and drink, Khalil tries the grog and nods appreciatively.
"So why stay?" He asks the sulky girl, trying to learn if the dryad was somehow trapped here against her will. "If you can't leave, maybe I could help in some way."
Ellywick beamed. "You're quite skilled, and I mean that. I've been around and seen a lot, few folks can wander into a tavern and do that." She glanced up as the monkey man was getting more boisterous. "Excuse me a moment." She strode over underneath the chandelier-swinging menace, and began a lullaby-like tune.
"When you haven't got time to eat,
Uzip a banana...
When you fancy a fruity treat,
Unzip a banana..."As her song continued, the man hopped down, falling into an unfortunate squat, but Ellywick led him with her melody to a corner that seemed to be his nest. She handed him the fruit in question and he made himself comfortable and ate his bedtime snack.
"Thanks," Willow says, nodding graciously. "I had a good teacher. At the Witchlight Carnival...worked there for several years." She gestures at the naked man, raising her eyebrows at Ellywick. "He used to work there. Carried around a monkey. Name's Ernest...his monkey half is at the carnival still." She takes another long drink of Sucker Punching a Rabbit, starting to feel very warm all over--the tiefling was certain her cheeks were starting to flush from the drink. "Hmmm, which one to try next?" She mumbles, staring at the half-drank glass of alcohol intensely.
"Thanks for joining in. It seems I'm thanking you a lot this evening, Ellywick." the young half-elf says. "I have a name, but it seems to be eluding me for the moment, so best off just to go with the short version, Vash."
When Ellywick heads off to deal with the man-monkey (or is that monkey-man), Vash turns his attention back to Willow. "That really was quite some performance. Truly astounding." the bard looks as if he is about to say something more, but then waves it off, instead clasping the tiefling on the shoulder and simply saying, "Well done."
Watching Willow down half of the Sucker Punching a Rabbit, he adds, "Easy now...I've had more than my fair share of hangovers in the past, and that looks like an excellent way to end up with one."
Looking around, he says to no one in particular, "Now where is that jambalaya I ordered...and more importantly that bloodwine?"
"So why stay?" He asks the sulky girl, trying to learn if the dryad was somehow trapped here against her will. "If you can't leave, maybe I could help in some way."
The dryad girl sighed loudly. "Why stay? As if I have a choice." She made a fist and smacked the heel of of it into the sapling behind her. "Can't leave my tree, or I die. So I'm stuck here, day after day, night after night, without a moment of peace." She wiped the back of her hand. "Tsu saved me, when Prismeer was split in thirds. My tree would have died, and me with it, when the waters came to Hither. But all I want is to go back to Thither and rejoin my sisters in the woods."
-----------------------------------------
Karley pulled the huge drink close while listening to the ugly-not-ugly woman, looking at her reflection in the surface...then she had an idea. "oooOOOoooGaze then, upon your own reflection. The enchanted love and the triggered repulsion in response would neutralize with each other, and your feelings would again find equilibrium.oooOOOooo" moving her into position and shoving her head down orthogonal with the golden liquid surface before removing the blindfold...
The woman was so surprised by Karley's actions that she made no attempt to resist. She blinked as the cloth that had swaddled her eyes was pulled free, vision clearing, only to see her own reflection in the giant beverage.
Sparkles of light filled the air, drawing the attention of many of the Inn's residents, as trailed of spiraling magic swirled around the hag, who continued staring, wide-eyed, as she was transformed.
Wrinkles and age spots vanished, grey, thin, greasy hair darkened into a thick silky mane. He cataract-clouded eyes cleared to a deep brown, and a single tear slid from the corner. "I'm... so beautiful..." she breathed, in awe of herself.
-------------------------------------------
"Thanks," Willow says, nodding graciously. "I had a good teacher. At the Witchlight Carnival...worked there for several years." She gestures at the naked man, raising her eyebrows at Ellywick. "He used to work there. Carried around a monkey. Name's Ernest...his monkey half is at the carnival still." She takes another long drink of Sucker Punching a Rabbit, starting to feel very warm all over--the tiefling was certain her cheeks were starting to flush from the drink. "Hmmm, which one to try next?" She mumbles, staring at the half-drank glass of alcohol intensely.
"Thanks for joining in. It seems I'm thanking you a lot this evening, Ellywick." the young half-elf says. "I have a name, but it seems to be eluding me for the moment, so best off just to go with the short version, Vash."
"Ah, how are those two rascals doing? Light still owes me twenty gold." She looked over at the pacified, sleeping ape man. "I wonder if reuniting them would swap them back? Doesn't sound like the easiest task, of course. It'd mean having to travel the realms with a naked, screeching, pain in the arse."
Seemingly hearing Willow's quiet, self-directed comment, she winked. "Faerie Fireball gives you flaming hiccups, so I'd steer clear. And Dragon's Milk clears the alcohol out of your system, so unless you want to start all over, I'd save it for last -- save yourself a hangover."
Ellywick takes a long drink from her own mug, setting it down empty. "Vash, I should thank you. It's been a while since I had someone to play alongside. It was fun!" She turns and grabs a case behind her. "I need to be going, though, I'm afraid. But here. I want you to have this. Something tells me it'll come in handy." She winks.
Ellywick hands Vash the case. Opening it, he sees a lute -- one of exquisite craftsmanship, and sparking subtly with arcane power. When he glances up to thank her...she's gone. Vanished into thin air.
While Vash is staring at this unexpected gift, the brightly colored Order Up brings his food and drink. "Careful! Don't choke!"
When Ellywick heads off to deal with the man-monkey (or is that monkey-man), Vash turns his attention back to Willow. "That really was quite some performance. Truly astounding." the bard looks as if he is about to say something more, but then waves it off, instead clasping the tiefling on the shoulder and simply saying, "Well done."
Watching Willow down half of the Sucker Punching a Rabbit, he adds, "Easy now...I've had more than my fair share of hangovers in the past, and that looks like an excellent way to end up with one."
"These drinks seem a little stronger than what I'm used to," Willow concedes. However, she takes another big drink anyway, wincing as the liquid burns its way down her chest and settles in her stomach. She regards the half-elf carefully for a moment, her eyebrows raised with curiosity. She had noticed his hesitation from moments before. "Anything on your mind, Vash?"
---
"Ah, how are those two rascals doing? Light still owes me twenty gold." She looked over at the pacified, sleeping ape man. "I wonder if reuniting them would swap them back? Doesn't sound like the easiest task, of course. It'd mean having to travel the realms with a naked, screeching, pain in the arse."
Seemingly hearing Willow's quiet, self-directed comment, she winked. "Faerie Fireball gives you flaming hiccups, so I'd steer clear. And Dragon's Milk clears the alcohol out of your system, so unless you want to start all over, I'd save it for last -- save yourself a hangover."
Willow glances at Ernest curled up in his filthy nest and cringes slightly, but nods. "Perhaps after we've finished our journey," She says. Maybe it'd be easier to reunite the monkey and the man when this part of the Feywild was set to right.
---
After this, Willow makes her way back to the table she had been sitting at and glances around to see what her fellow Defenders were accomplishing in the Inn.
Taking another swig of his grog, Khalil nods with understanding and sympathy. "Another soul cursed in one way or another by the foul magics of the hags." He says, more than a bit of anger slipping into his voice. "She has much to answer for, this tyrant of Hither." He looks the young dryad in the eyes and offers her a smile. "Do not lose hope. There are those of us who are even now working to right the wrongs that have been imposed upon the land. If we are successful, I promise I will personally see you safely back to your sisters in Thither."
"In the meantime, perhaps I can learn a bit about our resident primate and find out what might calm him a little."
Khalil then walks over to where the musician is feeding the naked man. Smiling at the bard he tilts his head toward the man. "May I try talking with him for a moment?" He asks.
"These drinks seem a little stronger than what I'm used to," Willow concedes. However, she takes another big drink anyway, wincing as the liquid burns its way down her chest and settles in her stomach. She regards the half-elf carefully for a moment, her eyebrows raised with curiosity. She had noticed his hesitation from moments before. "Anything on your mind, Vash?"
"It's nothing." the bard says with a half-grin - rather unconvincingly.
Realizing just how unconvincing his statement was, Vash is reluctantly about to reveal what was on his mind when Ellywick returns from dealing with Ernest.
Ellywick takes a long drink from her own mug, setting it down empty. "Vash, I should thank you. It's been a while since I had someone to play alongside. It was fun!" She turns and grabs a case behind her. "I need to be going, though, I'm afraid. But here. I want you to have this. Something tells me it'll come in handy." She winks.
Ellywick hands Vash the case. Opening it, he sees a lute -- one of exquisite craftsmanship, and sparking subtly with arcane power. When he glances up to thank her...she's gone. Vanished into thin air.
Vash is gobsmacked by Ellywick's gift, and sits in stunned silence slowly picking at each string and listening for tone. Looking up finally, he says "Than...hey, where did she go?"
Looking around the inn for any sign of the halfling bard, he nods at the kenku when his food is delivered. "Thank you." he says, grabbing the glass of Cave Fisher Bloodwine and taking a long, deep drink.
After Ellywick bestows her gift to Vashrin, Willow watches the bard with mild amusement, taking the last few drinks of Sucker Punching a Rabbit with a slight grimace. She sets down the empty glass, contemplating the possibility of another.
"A beautiful gift," she comments, waiting for a moment to continue poking at her friend over the unspoken things he was trying to avoid. Never underestimate the persistence of a nosy teenaged girl. "Well?"
Looking up from the lute and his glass of bloodwine, Vash sighs and smiles. "It's nothing to be concerned about, Willow. Our little coterie of friends has enough troubles without me introducing more."
"Where'd Nuruk get off to?" he asks in way of trying to change the subject. "You didn't break the old boy, did you?" he asks with a wink.
"Alright, alright. I'll let it go..." She leans back in her seat and glances around the common room, having lost sight of the golden dragonborn amidst the excitement of their performance. "I know it's been a while, Vash, but we are all friends. You don't have to carry things alone. Your troubles are our troubles."
She waves over Order Up, and when she can, she will order herself a glass of bloodwine as well, intending to sample all the drinks. Willow snorts slightly at his comment about Nuruk and shakes her head. "Mm, not sure where he ended up. I got a little excited about the hoop and your music and all...but break him? Hardly. You've seen him, right? I'm strong, but I'm not that strong." She runs a hand through her loose waves, tucking the mass of hair between her horns to keep it out of her face.
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When Nuruk emerged, it would almost be strange to see him outside of the chainmail, vestments, and cape they had been travelling in for so long. He was usually the first one up to dress and prepare for the day and the last one to take off his armor and unwind. Their constant guardian seemed strangely simple in the grey-white tunic and dark brown pants. His boots had been cleaned of the swamp's muck, shining clean thanks to the magical nature of the room providing the tools to him. It could've just cleaned them but there was something relaxing about the process. His massively muscular form could still be seen though, the sleeves missing on the tunic to show off the golden, scarred arms of the paladin as he joined his friends a little after Willow came out.
"Good day, my comrades." Nuruk said, his scales glistening so clean that one could almost swear that they could see them catching the light. He looks between them all with probably the most relaxed smile tha the had ever had. "Did you all say my name? I swore I heard you all say it. Ah! Order up! I have an order for you!" The dragonborn points out three things on the menu; the Spicy Jambalaya, Faerie Fireball, and the Carrot Patch Dirt Cup.
"Thank you friend, I appreciate you." He says to the feathery waiter, turning his attention back towards his friends. His eyes catch the new instrument in Vash's hands, his brow lifting. "What do you have there, my friend? Something good, I hope?"
After hearing the explanation of how he got it, there is suddenly a look on Nuruk's face as he remembers an important detail. There were few places where so many would be gathered together and it was one of the best places to ask.
"Excuse me a moment, my friends." Nuruk asks, standing up and clearing his throat. The next moment he speaks, his voice booms with a practiced touch of exuding authority when needed.
Nuruk exclaims, waiting the hum of the tavern to die down. "My apologies for interrupting your meal twice now. A friend of ours has lost their son in these lands potentially, a young displacer beast named Star. You know, the panther-looking creatures with tentacles on their backs? He is kindhearted and, well, would likely be an adult or soon to be now. Have any of you heard of such a creature? His father is kind and wants his son to come home safe. Anything you can say could help."
Taking another swig of his grog, Khalil nods with understanding and sympathy. "Another soul cursed in one way or another by the foul magics of the hags." He says, more than a bit of anger slipping into his voice. "She has much to answer for, this tyrant of Hither." He looks the young dryad in the eyes and offers her a smile. "Do not lose hope. There are those of us who are even now working to right the wrongs that have been imposed upon the land. If we are successful, I promise I will personally see you safely back to your sisters in Thither."
"In the meantime, perhaps I can learn a bit about our resident primate and find out what might calm him a little."
Khalil then walks over to where the musician is feeding the naked man. Smiling at the bard he tilts his head toward the man. "May I try talking with him for a moment?" He asks.
The not-yet-vanished bard gestured for Khalil to give it a go. The naked monkey-man was eating fruit happily at the moment, calmer than he'd been before.
"Excuse me! Everyone!" Nuruk exclaims, waiting the hum of the tavern to die down. "My apologies for interrupting your meal twice now. A friend of ours has lost their son in these lands potentially, a young displacer beast named Star. You know, the panther-looking creatures with tentacles on their backs? He is kindhearted and, well, would likely be an adult or soon to be now. Have any of you heard of such a creature? His father is kind and wants his son to come home safe. Anything you can say could help."
The elven woman rose from beside her husband. "A missing child? We seek the same. Our daughter was lost to us when a carnival came to our realm. We've followed the trail to Prismeer, but haven't been able to find her."
"Might never," one of the male satyrs said with a thick accent akin to Spanish, his tone cautionary, not mean. "The mist divides the realm. You cannot cross it, trying just turns you around. Two thirds of Prismeer is out fo reach. Not good odds, those."
"Bah!" the dwarven adventurer spat. "That ain't entirely true. There are them what know how ta cross, and ye can bet yer sweet bippy the coven kin go where they're pleasin'."
"Now, now," Tsu spoke up. "We all know better than to speak of them and draw their attention. I take it no one has seen this Star?" There was much apologetic shaking of heads. Tsu looked to Nuruk. "My apologies, friend."
Karley's dart hit, just off-center but within the circle of the bulls-eye. More food and drinks were brought for all who ordered them. The Faerie Fireball turned out to be a tasty cinnamon whisky, but Nuruk would discover it gave one a case of the hiccups for the next several hours, each hiccup releasing magical sparkles.
"Your child is missing?" Nuruk asked, his concern growing. The hunger of the hags seemed to have no end. A mixture of anger and pity came to his being as he though of Mr. Witch and Mr. Light, prey that had been caught to lure in even more. The interruption by the satyrs brought a frown to the dragonborn's face; it seemed that the realm had been divided by the hags themselves. Hope was not yet lost though, as the dwarf revealed that there was ways to cross the fogs to the other realms.
"Thank you, all of -hiccup-" Nuruk had begun to say before he hiccuped, a small batch of flames escaping from his lips. He stared queerly at it for a moment as a grin spread across his face. It was a momentary distraction though, as he addressed the room. "Thank you, all of you."
Picking up his bowl of delicious food, he'd nod his head to his friends and make his way to where the elves were working together. Clearing his throat, he'd gesture to the chair nearby that was still open before sitting down with them.
"I am sorry to bother you but we -hic- would like to help. I am -hic- Nuruk Faerjhan Kni-hic-ght of the Brambles. My friends and I went through that very same -hic- carnival to get here. Please, tell me of your child, maybe we can help?
Willow bumps against the dragonborn affectionately after he sits with them and places his order, shaking her head slightly. "We were talking about you, yes. Wondering where you had gotten off to and all. You missed Vash and I performing." Her cheeks are flushed and her speech a tad slow from the drink, having finished Sucker Punching a Rabbit and jumping right into a glass of Bloodwine. She eyes the Faerie Fireball that Nuruk orders curiously, stealing a sip from him as they enjoy their meal--only enough for a taste. She remembered what Ellywick had said about the drink and didn't fancy getting hiccups, let alone magical ones.
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After Nuruk's question and the subsequent conversation after, Willow would join the paladin with the elves, the serious turn the evening has taken hurrying along her sobriety. "I've worked at the carnival for the past eight years, taking care of children, mostly. Please do tell us. I might have seen her..." Willow is not hopeful, given what she knows about the carnival and the disappearances, but given the effects of her curse, she decides not to express any form of concern or worry over the situation.
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Khalil sighs and shakes his head sadly as the conversation turns to more missing children. The hags have much to answer for. Is all that runs through his mind. Including the poor man sitting before him. Nodding at the bard, Khalil sinks his lanky frame down onto the floor, his legs crossed, his feathered hat pushed back on his head.
His eyes close. The rise and fall of his chest slows as the druid draws forth the memories of the land and all who have walked, slithered, stalked, swam, or otherwise set foot upon its ancient soils. The memories are nothing specific, no grandiose tails of good and evil or chaos and law. Nothing so mundane, for the land worries not of such mortal quibbles. But the land hears. Never sleeping, ever attentive. It hears the robin sing blessings to the morning sun and the mole mother whisper lullabies to her tiny brood. Patiently it listens to never ending chatter of the jays or the jibes and jokes of a tipsy coyote clan. All the languages of all the creatures are known to the land and it is this memory that Khalil draws forth as he sits upon the floor of the wandering inn.
"Hello. My name is Khalil. What is yours?" He says to the man who is a monkey. His voice is the same but the words come out in a series of eeks and ooks, short grunts or quiet high pitched whines. "Are you well and warm enough?"
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The satisfied grin on the half-elf's face quickly fades as he turns his attention from the gift given him by Ellywick and to more missing children. Hearing the story of the elven child taken from the carnival, Vash's thoughts turn to seeing all of those taken - like his sister - set free, and of a darker bent - revenge.
Knowing full and well his current mindset would do no one any good, particularly since the other defenders were already gathering what information they could to be of help - Khalil with Ernest, and Nuruk and Willow with the elven parents - Vash begins to wander around the inn floor, absent mindedly strumming his new instrument.
Passing by a rather inebriated Karley, the bard's grin returns briefly, seeing the halfling engaging in a bit of friendly sport with a pair of the inn's other patrons.
Wandering by the satyr card game, he finds himself mildly surprised that Sammy hadn't found his way into the game, given his silent friend's love of cards.
Continuing on around the room, Vash can't hardly help but try to eavesdrop on what outwardly appears to be a less than comfortable conversation between three harengon - who's to say what they were talking about wouldn't be of use as the Defenders headed off to deal with others of their kind in the morning.
While leaning against a wall, absentmindedly strumming away, he listens to the conversation - all while he finds eyes more and more frequently stealing glances at the attractive woman in the red cloak.
Meanwhile, upstairs...
"ZZZzzz"
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The woman fished out her locket. In it was a tiny, skilled painting of the two of them with a small girl with curly black hair and big brown eyes. "Our little Serrawyn," she said softly.
"The Witchlight carnival came to Castrovel, and we planned to take her as a surprise. But she ran off with friends, and went alone. She must have snuck in, she had no coin. We searched the place high and low, and never found her." The father seethed with quiet rage. "I persuaded Mr. Witch to tell me where she was. He is lucky I left him alive. That was three years ago. We have searched every bit of this swamp, and found nothing. All we know for certain is that she is alive-- there are rules here, and children who end up in Prismeer can not be harmed. Even if, say, some beast got hold of her, she would blink out of existence and reappear somewhere safer."
Willow recalled a period around that time when Mr. Light had run the show alone, saying his partner was 'under the weather.'
"Oh! Hi! Hey, hi! Friend?" the ape man got excited again at understanding Khalil, and having someone to speak to. "Zippy! Who you? Warm, yes! Much food. Safe. Lonely."
Vash wasn't sure what he expected to overhear, but it wasn't this.
"Tell me, Jinko. How do you plan to provide for my daughter?" asked the harengon in the middle, in a voice that marked her as middle aged.
"Mother, please. This is so old fashioned. We don't need a chaperone."
"Ah yes, the very same thing I told MY mother when I was being courted by your father. It's not old fashioned, its necessary. If I left you two alone I'd be a grandmother before I could blink."
"Mother!"
"Oh don't you give me that look. You're in heat, missy, and you may think you have self control but when the time comes, you won't. Population control. It's a mother's duty to make sure her kits take it slow, or next thing you know we're suffering from the famines of the old days. Now, how do you intend to provide for her? You'd better be finished with the horrible Agdon fellow. He's a reprobate of the worst sort and I won't have my daughter cavorting with a gang of brigands!"
"Course not, ma'am! I'm through with him, promise. I'm ready to settle down with a nice doe and raise a litter."
The woman fished out her locket. In it was a tiny, skilled painting of the two of them with a small girl with curly black hair and big brown eyes. "Our little Serrawyn," she said softly.
"The Witchlight carnival came to Castrovel, and we planned to take her as a surprise. But she ran off with friends, and went alone. She must have snuck in, she had no coin. We searched the place high and low, and never found her." The father seethed with quiet rage. "I persuaded Mr. Witch to tell me where she was. He is lucky I left him alive. That was three years ago. We have searched every bit of this swamp, and found nothing. All we know for certain is that she is alive-- there are rules here, and children who end up in Prismeer can not be harmed. Even if, say, some beast got hold of her, she would blink out of existence and reappear somewhere safer."
Willow recalled a period around that time when Mr. Light had run the show alone, saying his partner was 'under the weather.'
Willow catches Nuruk's eye at the couple's tale, one eyebrow quirked. A familiar story, one that echoed their own. The tiefling turns her attention back to the pair and nods slowly. "Yours is not an uncommon tale in the carnival," She says quietly, looking at the couple with a sympathetic expression. "I remember that time--Mr. Light had to run the show alone. Caused more than a few problems." She huffs slightly with smileless laughter. "It's good to know someone took him down a peg."
Vash continues eavesdropping, trying to determine the sincerity of Jinko's claim.
"Hello Zippy, my name is Khalil. I am glad to hear you are comfortable, but sorry you are lonely? I hear you used to travel with someone else. Do you know what happened to him?" He says adjusting his position on the floor to try and get a bit more comfortable. All the while he pondered the poor creatures situation. Was he truly a monkey transformed or trapped in a human body or was he a human cursed to think he is a monkey? He'd no real way of knowing for certain. Still man or monkey, the fact he was lonely meant there might be a way for Khalil to help.
"If it meant making a few friends, would you be willing to put on some clothes and do your best to help out?" He plucks at his own shirt and trousers to indicate clothing. "I'll bet there are folk here who could make you something special, with lovely colors or interesting patterns." He adds. "And with clothes, people might be more willing to talk with you. I've a friend who knows how to speak with his hands." He makes a few rudimentary gestures. "I bet a smart monkey like yourself could learn a few things so you could tell others when you're hungry or need a rest or spot something scary. And they could tell you how to help out around the inn. Maybe gather coins after the musicians perform, you used to do that before didn't you? Or even help serve a drink or two. What do you think about that?"
As he converses with the poor monkey man, he ponders ways to possibly help the situation. Depending on how long they stayed at the inn, he could teach Zippy some basic ways to communicate. Hand gestures and what not. The he snaps his fingers, at the very least he could make sure that Ellywick or Tsu know the rituals that would allow them to speak directly with Zippy. Then they could work it all out themselves, or at least have a chance to, until the curse could be removed or broken.
As Vash listens in, he has no doubt in his mind that Jinko is a dirty no good liar. He's got a used horse salesman's way of soothing the angry customer, in this case the mother harengon. This is a rabbit interested in the very thing their chaperone is trying to prevent, and in all likelihood, he's still very much a member of the bandit gang.
To Khalil's first question, Zippy gets very excited. "Ernest! Friend. Zippy is Ernest. Ernest is Zippy. Zippy happy first. Zippy miss Zippy now."
As for the rest... "Clothes bad. Itchy." Zippy paused for a long moment, in thought. "Want friends. Will clothes. Try."
"An all too familiar tale, indeed." Nuruk added, frowning lightly as he rubbed at his chin. [b]"Perhaps she is just not in this section of Prismeer? Like they said, it seems the realm has been divided. We could help search for her, this place has great beauty but no child should be forced to grow up here. She needs to be brought home."
"I know that I only have words alone to bring up behind me but on my honor, I will help you as best as I can. We all lost something as children at the carnival, my friends and I. We are here to make things right." The last word resonates with a compassionate calmness and a zealous anger. Like storm clouds off in the horizon, slowly rolling in. "As a knight, I promise you that."
Nuruk sits back, smiling as gently as he can. Movement to his left makes his head turn and he looks at the goblin with a bag over their head. They lock eyes for a moment and Nuruk's gaze narrows lightly.
"This...strangely does not bother me. I'm sorry, I am Nuruk. I have a question, little friend. Why the bag?"
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Vash, still stumming his lute, approaches the table with the three harengon. "Such vows!" the bard exclaims, launching into a short tale.
There were once five men. The one had no eyes, the second had no legs, the third was dumb, the fourth had no arms, the fifth was naked.
The blind man exclaimed, "Eh, lads, I see a bird!"
The dumb man said, "I'll shoot it!"
The man without legs said, "I'll run after it!"
The man without arms said, "I'll pick it up!"
And the naked man said, "I'll put it in my pocket!"
The quick tale finished, he turns to the mother, in particular, and the young girl, and says, "I think perhaps this one has a bit in common with these five men." gesturing to the rougish harengon. "If you follow my meaning."
"An all too familiar tale, indeed." Nuruk added, frowning lightly as he rubbed at his chin. [b]"Perhaps she is just not in this section of Prismeer? Like they said, it seems the realm has been divided. We could help search for her, this place has great beauty but no child should be forced to grow up here. She needs to be brought home."
"I know that I only have words alone to bring up behind me but on my honor, I will help you as best as I can. We all lost something as children at the carnival, my friends and I. We are here to make things right." The last word resonates with a compassionate calmness and a zealous anger. Like storm clouds off in the horizon, slowly rolling in. "As a knight, I promise you that."
Willow nods along, a grim expression on her face. "Those who stole from all of us will come to regret it," She says to the parents, inclining her head slightly. "We will be sure to keep an eye out for your Serrawyn." She squeezes Nuruk's shoulder gently, waiting for any reply from the parents before moving off to go poke around at some of the other patrons.
Willow makes her way over to the gnomish painter and the strange chicken, standing just a little bit away so as not to disrupt the artist at work too much. "You're doing lovely work," She comments quietly to the gnome.
Khalil nods seriously as the monkey does his best to describe the switch, but he can't help smiling Zippy when Zippy mentions itchy clothes.
"We'll see if we can't find you something nice and soft. Not itchy at all." He says. "Sounds like being in a new body was fun for a while, but now you miss being...you. Is that right Zippy?" Khalil says and offers the poor fellow another banana. "My friends and I are doing what we can to stop the person who did this to you and Ernest. Hopefully when we do, you will be you and you and Ernest can go back to being friends again."
He stands up. "Now you just rest for a while and I'll see about getting you some clothes and all that."
The druid turns to Ellywick. "His name is Zippy and the poor fellow is mostly just lonely and missing his own body." He says to the musician. A grin flashes on his face. "He's willing to put on clothes, nothing too itchy mind. And he could maybe even help out gathering tips or serving drinks with a little work and effort, if that'll make folk a bit more friendly."
"I could show you or maybe our good host the ritual needed so you can speak with him like I just did. That'll make teaching him some basic gestures and other ways to communicate much easier. I'm afraid there isn't much more I can do at this point. I've no way to remove the curse on him and Earnest." He adds shaking his head in continued frustration and sadness at all the chaos and misery the hag has sown across this land.
"This...strangely does not bother me. I'm sorry, I am Nuruk. I have a question, little friend. Why the bag?"
The goblin just stared at him, beady eyes peeing through the slits, and his 'dog' raised its head and growled. Up close, Nuruk realized it wasn't entirely a dog -- some sort of reptilian arms had been sewn on.
"Toasted-Cheese not your friend," he said, in a voice like someone walking on broken glass. "Why you bothering everyone?"
The quick tale finished, he turns to the mother, in particular, and the young girl, and says, "I think perhaps this one has a bit in common with these five men." gesturing to the rougish harengon. "If you follow my meaning."
The mother rabbitfolk snorted and rose. "I suspected as much. Come, Buttercup. We're leaving."
The stricken girl followed her mother reluctantly from the inn, one they'd settled their bill. Vash noted they spoke with Tsu for a minute but no gold was exchanged. He filed that away.
"Thanks a lot, pal. Hey, you with that tiefling? Maybe I should go ruin your chances, make up some crap story for her, and ruin your chances at some tail.". Jinko was angry and squared off against Vash, threateningly, once the females were gone.
"Sounds like being in a new body was fun for a while, but now you miss being...you. Is that right Zippy?"
...
"I could show you or maybe our good host the ritual needed so you can speak with him like I just did. That'll make teaching him some basic gestures and other ways to communicate much easier.
Khalil's supposition was confirmed with emphatic bidding from Zippy.
"It would certainly be nice to get him to put some pants on. That's very generous of you. Consider your bill paid.". She smiled, and he could see a couple silver teeth glinting from her grin. She finished her earlier chicken and was now munching on handfuls of peanuts.
Then Karley streaked by to join the ape man, and even Tsu was taken so aback that her hand stopped halfway to her mouth.
Willow makes her way over to the gnomish painter and the strange chicken, standing just a little bit away so as not to disrupt the artist at work too much. "You're doing lovely work," She comments quietly to the gnome.
The woman nodded in acknowledgement, but before she could reply, the door opened.
A single, small, solitary figure walked in.
A lornling.
Willow looks up as the door opens and freezes. A lornling. A lornling here. A spy? Someone to scout for the hag? Someone on their trail? In her drunken state, she finds her mind rapidly shuffling through a plethora of options, each one equally absurd and likely to her.
She glances about the common room, trying to lay eyes on each of her companions. Karley would not be helpful, especially since the halfling was streaking around the common area...Willow didn't have time to process that thought very thoroughly as she laid eyes on Vashrin, Khalil, and Nuruk. Sammy was nowhere to be found that she could see. The purple tiefling abruptly turns away from the painter and makes a beeline to Nuruk, walking quickly and purposefully.
"Sorry to interrupt," She says apologetically, grasping the dragonborn's shoulder tightly and looking at him with wide, panicked eyes. She leans down and speaks quietly to him: "A lornling. Inn here."
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"It is my pleasure." Khalil says to Tsu. "I only wish there were more I could do to help. I'll get to work putting the ritual down to paper shortly, I was just going to..." The druid breaks off mid thought as Karley's naked form races past. Khalil puffs out his cheeks and shakes his head as he looks back to Tsu apologetically. "That...I am afraid, I can't do anything about." He says before excusing himself to find a quiet corner to begin scribing the ritual necessary for Tsu to communicate with Zippy.
So caught up in his work, and doing his best to simply ignore Karley's naked antics, Khalil doesn't even notice the other small figure entering the inn.
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Vash smiles at the harengon.
"Oh, I don't think you'd want to try anything with her." he says calmly. "If she didn't see through your ruse and deal with you in her own way, the rather large fellow over there with the golden scales might really take exception to you trying something that foolish."
"Beside that point, do you really believe you had that young girl's mother convinced? I certainly don't, not if I was able see your true intentions from across the room." Vash continues, not backing down from the roguish harengon in the least.
The door open splits Vash's attention for second. Seeing the creature that walks removes the cock-sure grin from the bard's face. Oh, that can't be good at all... he thinks to himself, before returning the lion's share of his attention to potential threat at hand.
Nuruk regarded the rude dog for a moment, nodding towards the goblin for a moment as he spoke.
"I apologize, I did not know you speak for the goblin." Nuruk turns back towards the goblin, a faint smile across his face. "Toasted-Cheese, I am Nuruk. A pleasure." His attention turned back towards the talking dog-lizard, thinking for just a moment. "Well, I wish to help. This place, Prismeer, is wrong somehow. We can all feel it in the air, in the ground below us, all around. I wish to make it right." Looking back to the goblin, he would shrug. "Also, the bag invites curiosity."
Willow grabs his shoulder and he leans back, his head tilting for just a moment to listen to her words. His eyes widen and he looks towards the figure that had just entered the inn. The reds grew wider and wider, his nostrils flaring, and the cup in his hand cracks as his grip tightens.
His heart begins to race in his chest and his vision goes blurry. Was he blacking out? No, it was tears that were threatening to fall. Fear, anger, shame, it all began to rush through him as he trembled underneath Willow's gaze.
"I-I-I should...I should..." Just then, Karley exploded. The blast of heat shook him from his stupor and the paladin would rush from the table towards his blasted, fiery friend.
"Karley! Wh-what happened?" Nuruk placed his hands upon her, the essence of life that was a gift from the Queen would flow into the halfling, healing her as much as he could.