First Segment
It's the first day of the Dry Season, and old friends are getting together at an outdoor bar to share fruit bowls and maybe a couple of beers. People have begun panning for gold. The day is clear, and after what seems to be a long Wet Season promises to be some new beginnings.
Kugu enjoys a sweet cider drink of an unknown fruit (to him) while relaxing with his friends.
"Okay Zinn, this is the first day of dry season, that means its a great day to be merry and enjoy ourselves!" Nbazi says to the Faerie Dragon on his shoulder before glancing back at the magnificant Baboon sleeping on the bench outside his families house,C'mon Rafiki, lets see if Yumbu is at the bar." he says before picking up his stride, "you remember her right? She was the first person I introduced you too after finding you in that box." he says to the Faerie Dragon as he starts walking to the patio, thinking about that day. The box was labeled with the trade symbol for pearls, I had no idea there was an albino dragon in there! he thought to himself.
"Maybe Yumbu will be there and I can buy her a drink and share a fruit bowl while I impress her with the story? What do you think? he asks Zinnath as they round the street corner the bar is on.
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Zinnath had been enjoying the sun on his scales as Nbazi walked along, but the sudden increase in speed and tempo nearly tumble him off the halfling's shoulder. He tightened his tail's grip, and dug his claws a bit into the leather shoulder covering that Nbazi had taken to wearing over his left shoulder as a perch. "Huh? What? Oh, yes, dry season. That means bad humor, or something, right? Well, I am always merry, am I not?"
"As for Yumbu, yes, while you certainly have introduced to me to a lot of bipeds, most of them are taller, so how could I forget Yumbu?"
Zinnath's mood sours a bit at the idea of bipeds drinking too much, but the mention of a bowl of fruit changed things up immediately. "Can it be the big bowl of fruit? The one with the mint leaves shredded over it?"
Inyoni leaves her dad's house mid-morning with the strap of a large mesh bag over her shoulder. Her plans for the next several hours are to go to the market and shop for the next couple of days worth of food and then while away some time by exploring the stalls and people watching.
Zinnath had been enjoying the sun on his scales as Nbazi walked along, but the sudden increase in speed and tempo nearly tumble him off the halfling's shoulder. He tightened his tail's grip, and dug his claws a bit into the leather shoulder covering that Nbazi had taken to wearing over his left shoulder as a perch. "Huh? What? Oh, yes, dry season. That means bad humor, or something, right? Well, I am always merry, am I not?"
"As for Yumbu, yes, while you certainly have introduced to me to a lot of bipeds, most of them are taller, so how could I forget Yumbu?"
Zinnath's mood sours a bit at the idea of bipeds drinking too much, but the mention of a bowl of fruit changed things up immediately. "Can it be the big bowl of fruit? The one with the mint leaves shredded over it?"
"Yes and maybe some berries with cream and honeyed cakes and oh maybe some dates if they have any." Baz says rattling of a light halfling snack.
"I won't be able to fly if I eat all of that!"
"So, what will ye have?" asked a waitress. She gives you some menus. There was beef on the menu, along with pork and chicken. "Something to whet your appetites?"
She looks at Zinnath with surprise.
"What the heck is she staring at?" Zinnath said to Nbazi telepathically.
A long, suffering sigh escaped Kikina as she straightened up. She should be more appreciative of the job, but... it was just so dull. At the least, she had a roof over her head. Shaking her head, she gave a lazy wave to Old Juttu as she went outside. They'd already discussed her taking this day off.
Finding a job that fits her skillset had been difficult. It would have been impossible for her if not for the help she got. Which, was part of the reason she was taking the day off. She had a halfling to find. Trying to not stand out too much in the city, her search for Inyoni began.
After finishing her first performance to celebrate the start of the Dry Season, Yumbulika heads over to relax at one of her favorite outdoor bars, her slender frame swaying gracefully as she maneuvers her way through a crowd. Upon spying Kugu, she heads directly towards his table and greets him warmly.
“Hello, hello! Isn’t today a beautiful day? How is your recovery going? Do you feel like your old self yet? I hope they’re taking good care of you?” Though she’s only met Kugu a couple times, via Nbazi’s introduction, it’s hard to forget someone who looks so different and has such a compelling story. She also quite appreciates the company of someone you can look in the eye without getting a sore neck.
Yumbulika leans over to sniff the grippli’s drink; her eyes widen with pleasant surprise. “That smells good good! What is it? But you should try a fruit bowl too—best fruit in Nantambu.” Gesturing towards a waiter, she orders a fruit bowl for them to share and one of ‘whatever he’s having’ for herself. “Have you seen Baz anywhere?” she asks in her usual animated whisper. “I think he said he might be here today.”
"So, what will ye have?" asked a waitress. She gives you some menus. There was beef on the menu, along with pork and chicken. "Something to whet your appetites?"
She looks at Zinnath with surprise.
"2 fruit bowls, for us and some banana's for Rafiki... And a stack of honey cakes and berries with crème, and a bowl of dates... if you have it, and some cool summer ale to wash it down please, oh and extra mint on one of the fruit bowls." he orders, wincing at Zinnath's telepathy, he still hadn't gotten used to it yet,Well it's not every day you see a dragon, faerie or otherwise.
after taking a table number, Baz looks around and see's Yumbulika at a table with Kugu at a table on the far side of the patio, and heads over to them, "Hello Yumbulika; Kugu, have you met Zinnath yet? He asks, holding his shoulder foward to show off the Dragon to the interesting frogman, or grippli as he had learned to call him recently.
Having returned home to help out his family on their farm in prepeartion for the dry season, Ukube is in high spirits. Although his family appreciate his assistance, they have been strongly encouraging him to seek another adventure soon. For now, Ukube is mainly looking forward to the upcoming festivities.
Seated at a table in the bar, he's consuming a hearty meal of spiced pork and yams, washed down with plenty of beer.
Wiping his mouth and letting out a large belch, he calls for another beer.
Zinnath's eyes twirl at the thought of extra mint on the fruit. He stares at "Kugu." He lets loose with a loud twitter from his mouth, and hops down to the table staring at Kugu.
He cranes his neck around to the left peering behind him, and quickly turns it about 300 degrees to the right, sweeping most of the room, before he stares back at Kugu, and talks directly into the creature's head, "Pleased to meet you Kugu! I'm Zinnath! I'm a very scary and deadly ice dragon. What are you, and what do you do? We dragons are always looking for minions!"
"2 fruit bowls, for us and some banana's for Rafiki... And a stack of honey cakes and berries with crème, and a bowl of dates... if you have it, and some cool summer ale to wash it down please, oh and extra mint on one of the fruit bowls." he orders, wincing at Zinnath's telepathy, he still hadn't gotten used to it yet,Well it's not every day you see a dragon, faerie or otherwise.
after taking a table number, Baz looks around and see's Yumbulika at a table with Kugu at a table on the far side of the patio, and heads over to them, "Hello Yumbulika; Kugu, have you met Zinnath yet? He asks, holding his shoulder foward to show off the Dragon to the interesting frogman, or grippli as he had learned to call him recently.
"Two fruit bowls, and bananas, a stack of honey cakes with crème, a bowl of dates, and some ale. And extra mint on one of the fruit bowls," she repeated the order. "Sounds like a feast."
She then turns to Ukube, "And some stout for you."
Kugu looks over the strange lizard, and not having the best interpersonal skills, blurts out...
"Aren't dragons bigger?!"
Not realizing he might have offended Zinnath, he plows on..
"I am a grippli, or frog person, or froggie...or..well different people have different names for us. I am a scout and tracker. A hunter I suppose...but I am not sure what a 'minion' is but I might have to decline as I am trying to return to my home."
He looks at all the people now sitting around them and gives a big froggie smile.
Luckily, it was pretty easy for Kikina to actually find her Yumbulika. There really were only a couple of places she could be. Performing somewhere, in which case she'd just have to look for a crowd. Otherwise, she was probably relaxing at a bar. So it didn't take her long to get to the market and spot the halfling at one of the open-air bars.
What wasn't so great, was the fact she was with a fairly wide ensemble cast of random people. The last thing she wanted to do was entertain a bunch of random small talk, but... A sigh escaped her as she went over. It was too late to back out now. So she slid into a spot beside the halfling, she makes a motion to the barkeep. "Some Mbege when you get the time."
Her eyes turn over to the rest of the little group as she waits for her drink, awkwardly waiting to see if Yumbulika would notice her presence.
Zinnath emotes to the whole table, "dragons, like bipeds, come in many sizes."
After a time, the waitress comes with two fruit bowls -- one with extra mint, some ale, and some honey cakes with cream. She also had a bunch of bananas.
"Here we go," she said. She had some help from others on staff, one a skinny male human. "Two fruit bowls -- one with extra mint, some ale, and some honey cakes with cream. And a bunch of bananas."
Then another waitress comes with Mbege for Kikina. Finally another waitress comes with a big pint of stout for Ukube.
Zinnath reaches out with his tail and pulls the "extra mint" fruit bowl in his direction, and while doing so, he knocks a bunch of the fruit from the second bowl into "his" bowl.
He pops a couple strawberries, and, he's not sure what else, into his mouth.
He waits until the servers walk away before speaking, "gee Nbazi, what are we gonna do tonight?"
"Two fruit bowls, and bananas, a stack of honey cakes with crème, a bowl of dates, and some ale. And extra mint on one of the fruit bowls," she repeated the order. "Sounds like a feast."
"Well it's a special day... and its not a feast!" he says with slight indignation,"it's a snack... for a halfling of course." he says with a smile, offering a gold coin to the waitress for her trouble.
Zinnath reaches out with his tail and pulls the "extra mint" fruit bowl in his direction, and while doing so, he knocks a bunch of the fruit from the second bowl into "his" bowl.
He pops a couple strawberries, and, he's not sure what else, into his mouth.
He waits until the servers walk away before speaking, "gee Nbazi, what are we gonna do tonight?"
"I'm not sure" he said in between bites of fruit and honey cake,"I've been trying to lie low with the night crowd since I found you in that box, whoever put you there is probably looking for you, you know."
Zinnath scans the crowd dramatically, "you might be right! Perhaps if I was to..."
Zinnath casts a spell and his scales change to a reddish hue...
"... become a fire dragon, they would be fooled?"
“Hi Baz,” Yumbulika greets her friend’s arrival with a warm smile. “You look quite dashing with that leather shoulder pad. Maybe you could get a leather glove too and conjure a hawk to join your other summonings?” Speaking of which, she casually addresses his companions. “Hi Raf, Zin.” She plucks a piece of banana from her fruit bowl, handing it to the mandrill before gazing at Nbazi with respectful admiration. Summoning spells were always beyond Yumbu’s ken, so she can’t help but be impressed by someone who can keep two creatures around for essentially forever.
“Kikina!” The petite contortionist beams as she finally notices the rogue sitting next to her. “You are so stealthy—I almost didn’t see you! Did you have any luck with that job helping the thatcher? There were so many leaks this rainy season. Though I guess that might have dried up by now.” The halfling pauses, as if thinking about other job opportunities, then suddenly changes direction. “Oh, everybody: this is Kikina. She’s new to Nantambu, so please give her a warm welcome.” Seemingly oblivious to any discomfort Kikina might be showing, she turns back to her newfound friend with urgent compassion. “You still have a place to stay, right? If not, Baz has plenty of room with his family. Right Baz?”
Zinnath stares at Kikina as he tries out the new name in his toothy maw, "Kick Eeeeen Aaaa. Kick Eeeeeeeeen Aaaaaa..." The dragon drones on.
Mongo wanders into the establishment, alone and confused.
He sheepishly approaches the bar.
"Mongo hungry. You have food? Mongo have coin."
"What does Mongo want? A food bowl? Some meat?" asks a maid.
“Kikina!” The petite contortionist beams as she finally notices the rogue sitting next to her. “You are so stealthy—I almost didn’t see you! Did you have any luck with that job helping the thatcher? There were so many leaks this rainy season. Though I guess that might have dried up by now.” The halfling pauses, as if thinking about other job opportunities, then suddenly changes direction. “Oh, everybody: this is Kikina. She’s new to Nantambu, so please give her a warm welcome.” Seemingly oblivious to any discomfort Kikina might be showing, she turns back to her newfound friend with urgent compassion. “You still have a place to stay, right? If not, Baz has plenty of room with his family. Right Baz?”
"Yumbulika. She gave the halfling a small smile as she took notice of her. It hadn't been that long, so she couldn't complain. Of course, not that she would have gotten the chance to really complain. The other halfling talked so quickly that by the time she thought of a response, she was introducing her to the rest of the group. With everyone's eyes on her, she froze for a moment, before forcing an awkward smile onto her face. Giving a tiny, half-hearted wave as... the tiny dragon started repeating her name.
Okay, refocus on the less awkward thing. "To answer your question, the thatcher job went fine. Bit... prickly, and got straw places I'd never want the straw to get. It went fine though. Of course with the dry season, they didn't need me anymore... But I don't need a new place to stay! The thatcher managed to point me to a shop that wanted a clerk. Owned by Juttu, if you know the guy? So uh, no need to go asking your friends if I can say with them for me..."
Kugu swings his attention from the strange little liza...err...dragon and smiles at Yumbulika.
"Welcome Yumi! I am recovering at a modest rate, but feeling much better. Please sit and tell me how you have been!"
Looking at his drink, he shrugs his shoulders.
"No idea what this is...but it is tasty! Try one..."
He waves the waitress over and asks for another drink and a fruit bowl.
As he waits he sees Baz and waves.
"Over here!"
"You have cheese? Mongo like cheese."
Mongo looks around, a bit forlorn, looking for anyone who seems friendly.
"Yes, we have cheese," the waitress said. Writing it down, she then left to get some cheese for Mongo.
“Juttu, Juttu …” Yumbulika murmurs quietly to herself, in a voice even softer that her usual whisper, then shakes her half-shaved head at Kikina. “Sorry, I don’t think I know him. But he’s hired you as a clerk, and lets you live at the shop?” She ends on a hopeful lilt, clearly wanting the best for her friend.
“Kugu,” she turns to include the frogman in the conversation, “I’m so glad you’re feeling better. Hopefully you’ll be well enough to return home soon.” The halfling pauses to sip at her drink, then nods in enthusiastic agreement with the grippli. “Good good! Here, try some of this.” She slides her fruit bowl over.
“There was a good crowd today for the Dry Season, and I tried a new move, so I made a bit more money than usual. And there was a great show of fireflies the other night. But there’s still no luck with Oyamba’s niece. Even though Okori is perfect for her. She keeps complaining about how she’s allergic to his goats.”
"Kikina!"
"Yeah, he lives closer to the outskirts. So it kind of makes sense that you wouldn't know him." Not really, Kiki expected her to no literally everyone in this city, considering how friendly she was. "But yeah, he's letting me stay in the shop. It's a closet, but it's enough. Says it helps make sure no one robs him in the middle of the night."
"... Also, I think that might be a deal-breaker. Being allergic to someone's livelihood..." The dragon finally managed to say her name correctly. Her eyes went to it, and she gave them a very... very awkward smile. How the hells do you even react to a dragon? Why was there a dragon here?
Zinnath gives a toothy grin and digs back into the fruit bowl.
“Hi Baz,” Yumbulika greets her friend’s arrival with a warm smile. “You look quite dashing with that leather shoulder pad. Maybe you could get a leather glove too and conjure a hawk to join your other summonings?” Speaking of which, she casually addresses his companions. “Hi Raf, Zin.” She plucks a piece of banana from her fruit bowl, handing it to the mandrill before gazing at Nbazi with respectful admiration. Summoning spells were always beyond Yumbu’s ken, so she can’t help but be impressed by someone who can keep two creatures around for essentially forever.
Nbazi blushed at Yumbulika's compliment and made sure to try to have that shoulder closest to her for the rest of the day,"Thank you." He manages to murmer out before blushing again.
Okay, refocus on the less awkward thing. "To answer your question, the thatcher job went fine. Bit... prickly, and got straw places I'd never want the straw to get. It went fine though. Of course with the dry season, they didn't need me anymore... But I don't need a new place to stay! The thatcher managed to point me to a shop that wanted a clerk. Owned by Juttu, if you know the guy? So uh, no need to go asking your friends if I can say with them for me..."
"That's where I recognized you from! We had some of our stalls thatched a few times over the wet season!" He exclaimed, "Well I'm glad to hear things are looking up for you." He says with a warm smile before popping a raspberry into his mouth.
"You have cheese? Mongo like cheese."
Mongo looks around, a bit forlorn, looking for anyone who seems friendly.
Cheese?Cheese!"CHEESE! I knew I forgot to order something, I'll be right back," he says as he eyes Mongo ordering his food and he stops,"And I think I might have found someone who can carry a whole wheel..." he says before realizing he is staring at the Massive man, he shakes his head and walks up to him and the waitress,"And some for us too please!" He says hoping she catches his small stature before turning look at Mongo, craning his neck almost all the way up,"I hope you arent planning on eating all the cheese before she can get me some!" he pipes.
Yumbulika shakes her head as she gently but firmly disagrees with Kikina. “No no—that’s accepting defeat before even trying to play the game. What does it matter that she has an allergy? They’re perfect perfect together—she just needs to give him a chance. Suppose I gave up on finding a mate just because I’m too small?” Indeed, the sorceress is probably the shortest halfling in the entire Mwangi Expanse. “You need to see the bowl as half full, not half empty. Like Kugu here …” She glances over at the grippli with a smile. “He was nearly beaten to death by some evil ape-men. But is he giving up? No no! Once he’s completely healthy again, he still plans on returning to his ancestral home, ape-men or no ape-men. And I’ll go along to help him.”
The triumphant look on her face lasts for several seconds before fading into a worried expression. In a hushed whisper, she leans close to the frogman. “You did say that you’d make sure there are no snakes, right?”
"Are you sure you're not being stubborn about this? She tried, equally gently, to convince her that maybe this wasn't the best idea. If she was going to use idioms... "My mother once told me, not to miss the bird on my head for the one in the tree. The whole "half-full" or "half-empty" comment kind of implies only one option."
"Also you're not short, you're fun-sized." That's a comment she'd heard before about halflings back home. There were a couple of men and at least one woman who was interested in them. Of course, she'd also arrested at least one of them for harassing halflings.
It then registered that she was planning, at some point, she was gonna wander off into the jungle with a griipli. She blinked a few times before letting out a small sigh. She directed her next comment toward Kugu. "You do know where you're trying to go, right? Not just wandering around the jungle?"
Kugu puffs up his throat sack as a show of his indignation.
"Kugu is a warrior and hunter! Best trained of his tribe and he remembers his home before the apes came. I would not lead Yumi on a death quest! Maybe Mongo can come and help us as well...he too is a mighty warrior."
The little frog-man settles down and looks a bit sheepish.
"Sorry for that display...I know you only worry about Yumi's safety."
Time for perception checks!
Kugu:
Kikina:
Mongo:
Yumbulika:
Nbazi:
Zinnath:
Ukube:
Inyoni:
Kugu, Kikina, Zinnath, and Ukube see some strange men coming into the bar asking questions.
Mongo looks down at the little man speaking to him. He gives a toothy grin.
"Mongo not that hungry. Or that rich."
Mongo stops and tries to count his remaining coin, but keeps losing count. He finally gives up, sighing, and turns back to Nbazi.
"Mongo have no place to go, no job, and no friends. You know something Mongo can do?"
"here let me help you, Mongo was it?" Baz says reaching out to help the giant count out his coins,"OK so these 3 should cover your cheese and something to wash it down," he says pointing to a silver and 2 coppers,"but this one is a button, oh my I hope no one tried to pass that off as a copper." he shakes his head trying not to laugh.
Baz turns back to Mongo,"Well as for a place to go, lets start with the big table with the tiny lady and Grippli," he says pointing to Yumbu and Kugu. As they approach the table he hears Kugu and says to Mongo, and look at that a Job too, if you don't mind the jungle. As for friends, I'd be a fool not to count someone like you as a friend so welcome to the Dry Season celebration!" he says as he settles back into his chair and takes a large bite of melon, noticing that his fruit bowl has significantly less fruit than a moment ago, he shoots a knowing smile at Zin who is digging into their own bowl.
"Are you sure you're not being stubborn about this? She tried, equally gently, to convince her that maybe this wasn't the best idea. If she was going to use idioms... "My mother once told me, not to miss the bird on my head for the one in the tree. The whole "half-full" or "half-empty" comment kind of implies only one option."
"there's more than just the allergies Yumbu," Baz says through a mouthful of melon,"Okori's might have some debts he hasnt paid off yet and Oyamba and her family know. They wont let approve a proposal till that's cleared up." he said before quickly realizing he's talking about things he should be in such a public setting, and stuffs a honey cake in his mouth to stop himself from saying more. I should not have said that... that debt was recorded in the box I... inventoried right before finding Zin; certainly not the kind of debt ANYONE would want public. Black market debts that became public could be the source of shame to some communities after all.
Zinnath focuses his attention on the newcomers and their questions. Can he hear what is being said?
Zinnath focuses his attention on the newcomers and their questions. Can he hear what is being said?
You hear them clearly. They are looking for a white fairy dragon.
Zinnath chuckles as he looks at his red scales.
He also speaks to Yumbulika and Nbazi telepathically, "hey, those guys that just came in. I think they're looking for me. Perhaps we should leave? I could disappear, if you think that would help."
Zinnath chuckles as he looks at his red scales.
He also speaks to Yumbulika and Nbazi telepathically, "hey, those guys that just came in. I think they're looking for me. Perhaps we should leave? I could disappear, if you think that would help."
I'm not sure that's a good idea.... they might be prepared for invisibility, and as far as they are concerned, you are my familiar. With Magaambya it should be plausible enough and they wont start a fight in a bar on Dry season day.
Wiping pork grease from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, Ukube leans over towards where Zinnath and the others are sitting.
”Oi! Did you say you were a white dragon, a red dragon or a fairy dragon? Cause those fellas over there are looking for a white fairy dragon.”
Kugu overhears the strangers talking and looks over to the now red dragon and smiles.
"Maybe we should be looking to leave the city sooner than later." he says softly while nodding towards the people looking for the 'white' dragon.
"Are you sure you're not being stubborn about this?
“No no—definitely not being stubborn,” Yumbulika answers stubbornly. “I know there are always options for a mate, but Ayotunda and Okori are a perfect match—we just need to help them see it. Or … are you saying I should tell Okori to get rid of his goats?” Her eyes shine excitedly at the thought that Kikina has cleverly figured out a solution to her matchmaking problem.
Unfortunately Nbazi raises another objection. For a moment the sorceress seems downcast, but she quickly brightens. “Then we just need to help Okori make some more money to pay his debts. That way Oyamba will be happy and let him marry Ayotunda.” Suddenly her eyes blaze with inspiration. “Oh! If Okori sells all his goats, then he can pay his debts. Oyamba will be happy, his niece will be happy—everyone will be happy!”
Seeing her friend’s cheeks stuffed so full of honey cake that he can’t even talk, she gently chides him. “Slow down Baz—you’ll choke if you eat too fast.”
When Mongo joins the table, she smiles and introduces herself. “Hello hello. I’m Yumbulika. Wait a minute …” she pauses as she realizes that the person in front of her might well match the one described in Kugu’s story “… are you the one who helped Kugu against the apes?” She glances over at the grippli for confirmation, seemingly oblivious to the recent fuss over the dragon.
Zinnath's head rounds on Ukube, "ummm, I'm a Volcano dragon. We're red, as you can see!" Zinnath spreads his mighty wings nearly two feet across to display his anything but white colored scales.