"A sailor who would abandon a stranger in a wreck is just a barbarian. There are more ways to win glory than a race."
"Thank you," the man says. "I tried to flag down the last chariot that came by, but the tengu holding the reins just ignored me!" It seems he is talking about Team Akki.
"My name is Dikaios. The Shoalskimmer was carrying several barrels of live octopuses among other cargo. But somehow they escaped and attacked us! We lost control of the ship and wrecked on the rocks. Few of the crew survived. Some of them lashed themselves to the stern, while a few of us tried to wade to shore, but that's when the reefclaws came! I'm the only one who made it.
"I was going to try to pelt the reefclaws with rocks from the shore to perhaps allow my companions to escape. The tide's rising, and when it does, what's left of the ship will sink. There's little time to spare!"
"Onward, then. Out of the flaming fields and into Gozreh's bathtub," Oinos urges the survivor to guide the way.
The beach consists of interlocking hexagonal basalt pillars that create uneven footing. The shallow water here averages three feet deep. As you wade your way towards the wrecked ship, two reefclaws emerge from hiding places among the rocks, swimming towards you menacingly!
Oinos summons an adorable giant rat to attack the closest reefclaw.
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The Stranger calls upon the latent power embedded within him and the items from his old companion and surges around the battlefield to the side of the group still making only a bit of headway(40ft/20ft due to difficult terrain). He moves towards the edge of the group thinking if they spread out then the creatures won't be able to attack them as effectively.
He then draws the string on the aged longbow with his overly calloused fingers and lets a pair of arrows loose at the nearest Reefclaw.
Arfi-em-khet's blue eyes follow the paths of the approaching Reefclaws. The kholo smiles.
Appears our lunch is being delivered.
The Kineticist calls upon his power!
Channel elements
The Sands still and silent under everyone suddenly begins to vibrate, shift, and be drawn to Arfi-em-khet's position! Increasingly more sand begins to swirl about the laughing kholo, twisting and turning, a vortex of Earth surround him!
Reaching out to grip the swirling sands about him, Arfi forms a Spear of Sand, throwing it at the nearest Reefclaws!
As the blast of sand dissipates, the Kholo's arms are seen outstretched, inviting the sand to envelope him, forming a harden armor!
Armor In Earth
He tosses another!
Arfi hits a reefclaw with a sand blast, but the Stranger and the summoned rat both miss. The reefclaw that rat attacked retaliates, slashing it with its claw. The other one swims up to Arfi and pinches him, though it is unable to grab a hold.
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Seeing both arrows fly wide, he shifts that faint divine spark into the bow causing an ethereal female human to appear next to him and guide his hands. Towards the creature attacking Arfi.
A small sonic boom echoes out as the arrow leaves the string, streaking through the air and cutting through a wave. Appearing for a moment like a winged silver fish through the other side before burying itself deep in the Reefclaw's eye.
"You always were the hunter, not I."
The second shot aiming for the other Reefclaw fumbles out of the bow string and splashes harmlessly into the water near the Stranger's bowed knees.
The rat lives to bite again, Oinos concentrates on his spell and it attacks the reefclaw.
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The satyr himself flings darts of metal at the creature.
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The Stranger's arrow finds its mark in Arfi's attacker. As the reefclaw dies, its body jerks spasmodically and its claws lash out at the kholo again, but fortunately, Arfi dodges.
Oinos' rat misses but he manages to hit the second reefclaw with his darts.
As the reefclaws draw near, Kallistratos snatches at a charm tucked into his tunic, and a strange transformation takes place. Knobbly growths of leaf and shoot and bark, thick bark, rasping to the touch, emerge from the corsair's skin as a barrier to the world around him.
He hefts one spear and hurls it, snatching up a second and hunkering down behind his shield rather than trudge into the reefclaw's pincers.
The spear impales the reefclaw, which lashes out feebly at the summoned rat as it dies!
Arfi-em-khet's right hand gives both Oinos' and Stranger a gracious wave while his left hand continues to lazily twirling sand.....
Where are those doomed sailors?
The Kholo waves his hand in front of him, causing a stream of sand to begin forming Stepping Stones to elevate his position to see farther....
You continue through the shallow water to where the Shoalskimmer has beached against a basalt outcropping. The shattered hull spilled its cargo into the water, much of which has drifted away or become lodged among the basalt. The bow section is roughly level in the water, whereas the stern section juts out of the water at a roughly 35-degree angle. It is to the stern that the three surviving crew members have lashed themselves to stay out of the water.
As you draw near, the exhausted sailors call out for aid, but they warn you to be wary of the octopuses! Indeed, a few moments after you reach the wreck proper, several dozen riptide octopuses, who had been camouflaged among the broken wood fragments, reveal themselves as they begin to clamber towards you, pulling themselves along with their strong tentacles!
"Wait, friends," Oinos puts out a cautioning hand. "Octopi are quite intelligent. Maybe we can talk them down."
The satyr raises his small voice and shouts over the waves: "Hello! We aren't trying to eat you. We just want to save some sailors from drowning. We'll let you go in peace!"
Arfi-em-khet's blue eyes follow the path the swarms of octopi begin to take toward them. Nodding to Oinos' plan, the Kineticist calls upon the sands beneath their wading feet to begin forming a bridge just over the water. He begins forming it next to the panicked sailors, extending it away from the swarms but towards the shore.
Stepping stones
As he does this some of the sand begin to form a Shield about the Kholo's person.
He Strides toward the sailors.
The octopuses wriggle their tentacles in complex patterns, which Oinos is able to interpret as their language. "You are here to rescue our oppressors? They are the ones who stuffed us in barrels to be sold as delicacies! If it were not for our liberator, Shkol, we'd still be on the menu!" one says.
"We were hiding from those reefclaws," another says. "Now that we're gone, it looks like it's safe for us to leave. We've had enough trouble as it is. Maybe we should just wait for Shkol to come back?"
"Fine, fine," says the first octopus. "You can take the sailors and go. But no funny business!"
The cephalopods retreat to a safe distance as Arfi forms a bridge of stone and sand to help the sailors escape. But the sailors refuse to untie themselves yet. "There's another threat lurking around here," one says. "We spotted it earlier--look, over there!"
He points towards a shape making its way through the water. As the being emerges from the waves, you see a fishlike humanoid holding a spear. The creature hisses and burbles as it shouts something in the Thalassic language.
"That is Shkol," says a helpful octopus. "She is asking you release us into her custody!"
The hiss and burble of the waves hits Kal's ears, but doesn't resolve into language unlike the whorls and whistles of the wind. "We have no claim on your freedom, nor of vengeance against Shkol." He wedges a spear into a cleft in the rock. "We offer no violence if she does not."
"Please tell her we are happy to release you," Oinos tells the helpful octopus. "We'll make sure the fishermen leave you alone."
The Ancient Guardian nods in respect to Shkol, as Oinos' translates the octopi....
Nothing but normal here.
The Kholo's thumb goes up in the satyr's direction. He then quickly ushers the poachers to shore before he decides to side with the fish
"Thank you!" the octopuses sign as they swim off to join the humanoid. Shkol gives you a nod before leading the cephalopods away.
You are able to escort the sailors safely to shore, where Dikaios offers his heartfelt appreciation. He gives you two minor healing potions and 12 gp as thanks.
You quickly get back on your chariot, having lost a few precious minutes. You complete the rest of the course quickly and soon are crossing the finish line. Upon hearing about your deeds aiding the sailors, the officials all agree to deduct the time you spent helping them from your total race time. Your total time is 14 rounds!
The Golden Pegasi: Rhetienn is in her element as she zooms through the first half of the race. Ataiosiphon solves the puzzles, and Yphani coaxes the horses to run despite her size. They take 13 chase rounds.
The Pearl Chasers: The team makes steady progress but struggles in handling the chariots, taking 15 chase rounds to finish the race.
Team Akki: This team misjudges which competitor should complete which tasks, causing delays. They take 16 chase rounds to finish.
Final Results: The Golden Pegasi take first place, earning 5 medallions. Your team takes second place, earning 3 medallions. The Pearl Chasers come in third place, earning one medallion.
Leaderboard:
Kleos Athanatoi 8
The Golden Pegasi 5
Team Akki 3
The Pearl Chasers 2
Oinos waves to the surprisingly peaceful maritime creatures before hopping back in the chariot.
"Ah, second place! Not too bad, considering we also saved three lives on the way," he comments at the medal ceremony.
Arfi-em-khet's position waving and nodding while grinning like a jackal seems perfectly placed in the view of Team Yucky....
After the ceremony, Dikaios the sailor decides to join the Pearl Chasers to participate in the remaining games!
***
The next day is the third day of the funeral games. Citizens start closing their businesses by noon in anticipation of a city-wide feast on Starday. Restaurants, bakeries, and pop-up kitchens in each district set up eating areas with different fare, encouraging all to wander the city and try a wide variety of foods. Yet one station in South Shore is reserved for the funeral games competitors.
Undyl the cyclops coordinator ushers the contestants into a plaza furnished with chairs, tables, and utensils, with the eating area cordoned off and surrounded by wooden bleachers that are swiftly filling with excited onlookers. Once he’s satisfied, Undyl claps three times for everyone’s attention and announces the contest.
“Who’s hungry?” The giant laughs as the spectators cheer, many of them saluting him with festive snacks. “We have plied the Obari Ocean. We have driven chariots across the land. Now, we tour Bailax in a different way: with food! Our ravenous competitors shall battle their way through four courses, each a celebration of local cuisine. They have 15 minutes per course, and anyone who doesn’t clean their plate in time—and keep everything in their stomach—can’t advance to the next course.”
Each course presents a special opportunity that provides alternate skills for earning Victory Points, lower check DCs, or gives some other advantage.
Earning Points: Each round, a PC chooses which action they use to earn Victory Points. Many of these actions grant the PC the satiated condition or increases the value of their satiated condition. The satiated condition tracks how full the PC’s stomach feels, making it harder to keep eating.
Scoring: For each course a team member ate in the time limit, their team earns 1 point (maximum 3 points per team per course).
FEAST
You eat steadily. Attempt a Fortitude save whose DC equals 9 + your satiated value, then increase your satiated value by 1.
Critical Success: You earn 2 Victory Points without increasing your satiated condition.
Success: You earn 2 Victory Points.
Failure: You earn 1 Victory Point.
Critical Failure: You earn no Victory Points.
INHALE
You consume your food rapidly, barely pausing to savor the meal, much less breathe. Attempt a Fortitude save whose DC equals 9 + your satiated value.
Critical Success: You earn 1d4+1 Victory Points (maximum 4) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Success: You earn 1d4 Victory Points (minimum 2) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Failure: You earn 1d4–1 Victory Points (minimum 1) and increase your satiated condition by 2.
Critical Failure: As failure, but you also become sickened 1 until you successfully Digest to reduce your satiated value. If you are already sickened, your stomach rebels and you become violently ill, forcing you to drop out of the contest.
CHEAT
You furtively hide or dispose of some of the food while pretending to eat. Attempt a DC 17 Deception, Stealth, or Thievery check.
Success: You earn 2 Victory Points.
Failure: You earn 1 Victory Point, but Undyl becomes suspicious. Increase the DC of all PCs’ checks to Cheat by 1.
Critical Failure: You’re caught cheating! Undyl brings you an extra serving to offset the food you’ve wasted. You earn no Victory Points. If you’ve already been caught cheating, you’re instead disqualified from the feast.
DIGEST
You take a moment to relax, mentally urging your stomach to make room for more food. Attempt a DC 16 Fortitude or Will save.
Critical Success: If the value of your satiated condition is 5 or lower, reduce it by 2. Otherwise, reduce the value by 1d4+1 (maximum 4).
Success: Reduce your satiated condition by 2.
Failure: Reduce your satiated condition by 1.
CONCOCT ANALGESIC
Using nearby ingredients, you create a tonic to soothe your stomach. When someone consumes the tonic, attempt a DC 15 Crafting, Medicine, or Survival check to reduce their satiated value as if they had Digested.
PSYCH UP
You banter with the audience, flex, or generally act in a charming way. You reduce your satiated value by 1. Attempt a DC 16 Athletics, Diplomacy, or Performance check.
Critical Success: As success, but you can gain the crowd’s encouragement twice.
Success: You delight the crowd. Once during the competition, after you roll a check to Feast or Inhale and see the result, you can choose to have the spectators encourage you and shout advice. Roll 1d4+1 and add the result to your check retroactively.
Failure: You don’t earn enough spectator support to make a difference.
First Course: Sea and Shells
The first course is a seafood platter replete with half of a steamed crab, pickled sardines, surf dolmas (kelp wrapped around a filling of amaranth and minced mussels), a baked halibut filet, a dozen three-horn prawns, and more alongside several specialized utensils and optional condiments. The unspoken challenge of this course is the prawns.
According to legend, the hero-god Ptireem battled the titanic, venomous crustacean Shoalrender near Bailax. Ptireem studied the beast and skewered Shoalrender between its tail plates, harmlessly venting the venom into the sea before dealing a killing blow. Bailax feasted for a week. However, Shoalrender’s billion children—the three-horn prawns—are said to have consumed the toxins, storing a little inside each of them.
To properly eat the prawns, one must pierce and drain the blue-hued poison gland through the tail before removing the shell (much as Ptireem did); trying to remove the shell first ruptures the gland and taints the meat. Unfortunately, the first course doesn’t identify the prawns or their toxins, relying on the contestants to safely eat the delicacy.
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The Stranger recalls many times where his old friend had retold tales of other hero gods wishing that one day she'd be able to accomplish such feats. The tale of Ptrieem and Shoalrender was one such feat she often retold or heard along the islets. They varried greatly in how extravagant things were retold but one point always remained the same.
Taking the three, three-horned prawns in his hands, one at a time. He flexed the cooked creatures to lightly separate their armored backside. Using the fork meant to pull the crab meat from it's shell he instead used it to lance into the backside causing a squirt of harmful vibrant blue to spray onto the ground next to him. After which he cleaned the fork and repeated the process upon the others in silence.
Happy with his approach he quietly ate at the platter at pace wishing to taste the meal well. As it is said one cannot truly win without first savoring the challenge.
"Ah, finally a contest after my own heart!" Oinos rejoices. "Feasting together is the soul of Iblydos."
The satyr bellies up to the table, and tries to de-vein his shrimp:
"As delicious as you are deadly, little guy!" he confides to the ready-to-eat crustacean.
"Oh my, that is more filling than I thought!"
"Definitely filling," Oinos stifles a belch.
Seeing how much food he has left, and how little time he has to eat it, he goes for the gusto!
"Ah, me. So much food, and so little of me!" the satyr laments, placing hands on his aching tummy.
Kallistratos is about to dive in when he notices the careful preparations that his more learned friends are taking. Lance, Shell, Eat, he notes, quite used to having to pick up unfamiliar social cues on the fly.
He inhales his first helping of shrimp, but all the halibut forces him to take a break. He stands, arms braced against the back of his chair, stretching out one leg then the other when he's startled by the hooting of the crowd - appreciative of the show Kal hadn't realized he was putting on. "Shouldn't be be oiled up to wrestle that food down?" "Hey boy, maybe you should take your tunic off to cool down!" Blushing, he returns to his meal, not so much as lifting his head to look at the crowd until every scrap is gone!
Arfi-em-khet's blue eyes widen at the amazing spread offered up for their enjoyment!
The kholo does look a bit knowingly at those pesky prongs.
Happily fitting a bib around his neck, Arfi certainly digs in!
You consume your food rapidly, barely pausing to savor the meal, much less breathe. Attempt a Fortitude save whose DC equals 9 + your satiated value.
Critical Success: You earn 1d4+1 Victory Points (maximum 4) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Success: You earn 1d4 Victory Points (minimum 2) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Failure: You earn 1d4–1 Victory Points (minimum 1) and increase your satiated condition by 2.
Critical Failure: As failure, but you also become sickened 1 until you successfully Digest to reduce your satiated value. If you are already sickened, your stomach rebels and you become violently ill, forcing you to drop out of the contest.
The Ancient Guardian seems delightfully optimistic about this venture!
Kalli and Arfi both make it through to the second course.
Second Course: Snacks and Salads
The second course arrives in a shallow bowl filled with grapes, apricots, salad greens, dried cherries, olives, persimmon jam, wafers, and a variety of nuts toasted inside their shells (along with simple nutcrackers and picks). The most difficult ingredient is the barkmelons, which resemble walnuts with a fibrous outer husk. Cracking them open requires a counterintuitive trick. Barkmelons are a common tavern snack, with locals assessing whether someone’s a tourist, too intoxicated, or both based on whether they can open the nut.
Arfi certainly is not opposed to eating his greens!
You consume your food rapidly, barely pausing to savor the meal, much less breathe. Attempt a Fortitude save whose DC equals 9 + your satiated value.
Critical Success: You earn 1d4+1 Victory Points (maximum 4) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Success: You earn 1d4 Victory Points (minimum 2) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Failure: You earn 1d4–1 Victory Points (minimum 1) and increase your satiated condition by 2.
Critical Failure: As failure, but you also become sickened 1 until you successfully Digest to reduce your satiated value. If you are already sickened, your stomach rebels and you become violently ill, forcing you to drop out of the contest.
The Ancient Guardian seems delightfully optimistic about this venture!
And just because he is extremely hungry!
Kal paces himself a bit more than Arfi, glad to be moving onto lighter fair.
Third Course: Bread and Oil
Each contestant receives a plate piled with crusty rolls, warm pitas, savory pastries filled with spinach, biscotti, hummus, tiny cakes with honey, an assortment of herbs, and a small ewer of olive oil. The secret to this course lies in the herbs; these range from strictly culinary to potentially alchemical, and an astute gourmand can grind and infuse specific herbs into the oil to maximize digestion and soothe the stomach.
Kal doesn't have the herb lore to make a healthful blend of the spices, so he just adds everything. It was way too much. He starts to feel green around the gills as he shoves the pastries down his throat, and fearing that once he stops eating he might never start again he just, keeps, going. For a moment he thinks it's the end, but the cheers of the crowd startle him into making one last push before collapsing back onto his chair with a groan from his mouth and stomach.
Chef Arfi-em-khet's pristine kitchen attire is as white as the cleanest sands in the unspoiled parts of the Desert.
Perfect! Let me check my recipe book!
The culinary kholo digs in!
You consume your food rapidly, barely pausing to savor the meal, much less breathe. Attempt a Fortitude save whose DC equals 9 + your satiated value.
Critical Success: You earn 1d4+1 Victory Points (maximum 4) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Success: You earn 1d4 Victory Points (minimum 2) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Failure: You earn 1d4–1 Victory Points (minimum 1) and increase your satiated condition by 2.
Critical Failure: As failure, but you also become sickened 1 until you successfully Digest to reduce your satiated value. If you are already sickened, your stomach rebels and you become violently ill, forcing you to drop out of the contest.
The Ancient Guardian seems delightfully optimistic about this venture!
And just because he is extremely hungry!
Fourth Course: Meat and Cheese
Competitors are relocated in groups of four around small grills situated low to the ground. Each person receives a plate of sliced cheeses and raw meat, the latter of which they’re expected to grill for themselves over the shared fires.
Kal hasn't been able to pace himself like he'd wished, but surely he could do meat?
Scarcely cooked meat?
The slender corsair never quite stops eating, but his pace is ragged, and though the last scrap of meat stays down, he looks very green at the gills as he finishes.
The Kholo's mouth begins watering as soon as he sees that delicious raw meat!
Cook?
He begins devouring each plate!
You consume your food rapidly, barely pausing to savor the meal, much less breathe. Attempt a Fortitude save whose DC equals 9 + your satiated value.
Critical Success: You earn 1d4+1 Victory Points (maximum 4) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Success: You earn 1d4 Victory Points (minimum 2) and increase your satiated condition by 1.
Failure: You earn 1d4–1 Victory Points (minimum 1) and increase your satiated condition by 2.
Critical Failure: As failure, but you also become sickened 1 until you successfully Digest to reduce your satiated value. If you are already sickened, your stomach rebels and you become violently ill, forcing you to drop out of the contest.
The Ancient Guardian seems delightfully optimistic about this venture!
And just because he is extremely hungry!
The crowd cheers as both Kalli and Arfi make it through all four courses, scoring a total of 8 points!
The Golden Pegasi: Yphani has a giant’s appetite, and Ataiosiphon devours food as if starved. The team earns 10 points.
The Pearl Chasers: Phel devours everything before them with gusto, though their companions are slower. The team earns 8 points.
Team Akki: Despite Akki’s gusto, Tsemone and Ulshuk each complete only a few courses. The team earns 7 points.
There is a tie for second place, but the judges give the edge to your team thanks to Arfi's gusto in licking all of his plates clean!
Final Results: Once again the Golden Pegasi take first place, earning 5 medallions. Your team takes second place, earning 3 medallions. The Pearl Chasers come in third place, earning one medallion.
Leaderboard:
Kleos Athanatoi 11
The Golden Pegasi 10
Team Akki 3
The Pearl Chasers 3
The Kholo's mouth begins to water at the Strangers comment about more edibles....
Being of the Desert, I tend to stay hungry and thirsty. This city living is making me soft.
The Sand Kineticist does play along with the crowd, seemingly enjoying the respite....
"An inspiring display! If only I had been able to participate longer. Hail to the feast!" Oinos cheers for Kalli and Arfi.
Kal looks up at the roaring crowd and his new friends reproachfully. "Anyone have any idea what the next event is? I might need a break..."
Following the medal ceremony, Ataiosiphon from the Golden Pegasi approaches you. He ate ravenously during the eating competition, appearing gaunt and half-starved. Now, he wrings his hands worriedly.
"Hail, friends. I wonder if you might be able to help me with a personal matter. It began aweek ago. I was preparing my home to host my fiance's parents for a fancy meal. When a knock came at the door, I opened it to find not my prospective in-laws but instead a bedraggled, starving traveler. Fearing an unexpected guest could jeopardize my first impression with my fiance’s family, I turned away the stranger and resumed feast preparations.
"Of course, hospitality is among Iblydos's greatest virtues, and denying succor to a stranger in need is a grave offense, but I did not think through the consequences of my actions. It would seem that some ill fortune led to the traveler’s death shortly afterward, because several nights ago, towards the end of my otherwise fruitful visit by my future in-laws, the stranger's ghastly spirit emerged through the door, denounced my bad manners, and chased me and my guests from my home! Now, my house is haunted, the spirit is destroying my food, and my wedding plans are in jeopardy.
"Might you kindly help exorcize my home? I'd ask the guards, but I'm worried that their intervention would fuel neighborhood gossip and further damage my reputation. Most of my wealth is invested in my home and job, so as payment I'll let you sort through and claim a few of my aunt’s eccentric memorabilia. You might find something useful to you there."
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The Stranger grumbles ever so slightly, feeling like this may simply be a trap to try and oust the competition that's actually keeping up.
But then he felt an old memory, the reassuring touch behind the ear and down his neck to remind and an old voice telling him he shouldn't worry so much. For a moment he wonders if he could have done better for her, maybe he worried enough and it was her that did not worry enough.
"We may assist. But." He looks to his companions, some swollen with the feast's partakings even feeling quite plump himself.
"We need some time to recover our stamina. It may also look odd for others to see you approach us during the competition as you have. So if anything comes to contention promise on your honor that you will speak the truth of the matter that you requested our aid for a matter not concerning the festivities."
It may come as genuinely odd to hear so much at once from the usually reserved and quiet elk. But the entire time he speaks softly and with his face slightly downturned towards Ataiosiphon, to see him better.
The Kartaji Epicurean simply stares shocked by such obvious lack of hospitality perpetuated by a rival in these games (promoting hospitality)! The Kholo's blue eyes are unsympathetic.
The Ancestors frown on such breaches of etiquette. Shall their displeasure infect our involvement it would not be pleasant.
The Ancient Guardian seems ready to follow the group's lead, although he probably will want to purchase various occult protections as possible....
"The gods will take care of your punishment, Ataiosiphon, but it is unfair to that spirit to let it linger here in the mortal world," Oinos chastises his fellow competitor. "We should try to put it to rest, if we can."
Kal looks deeply incredulous, but relents at Oinos's words. "You'd be paying through the nose just to get me to look normally, but Oinos is right about the shade. You are still going to pay though, to be clear, and if your betrothed doesn't want you don't expect me to go singing him love songs!"
"I promise I will speak truthfully," Ataiosiphon says. "Thank you, my friends."