Kojo starts his lap around the establishment, keeping his eyes peeled for anything suspicious.
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[b]"Wax, Velmar, why don't you two head on in and ask about the missing apprentice. Tinder and I are going to look for clues around the outside of the shop."[b/] Kojo locks eyes quickly with Wax and Velmar while Tinder is otherwise distracted. He motions toward Tinder and starts to guide him away from the entrance. [b]"Tinder, sounds like I am going to need your expertise. Tell me about insects that happen to be the size of a sack of potatoes."[b/]
"Ms Pricknettle is a good as any place to start, and I imagine Tinder won't wait long to talk to her. And don't give me that look Velmar. You know most of the towns people avoid me like the plague. This can be your show. Maybe redeem yourself with that ocarina."
"If it wasn't clear from Tinder, yes we have a deal." Kojo could feel his excitement rising. People missing, potentially abnormally large insects, and the chance for treasure. This has Mystery Machine written all over it. Good thing the gang is all together.
Kojo starts shaking Abner if an effort to wake him. Thinking for the better, he pauses his efforts and clears away the remaining ale from anywhere near their trusty brawler. With that taken care of, Kojo takes a more direct approach.
"No we are clearly not too busy, and it would betray the whole point of The Order of the Mystery Machine if we didn't look into whatever the problem is. Lead on little man, looks like we are coming with you to see the Mayor."
"From the Mayor? She does know this is a holiday, right? Well grab a seat and have a drink. Double D here can spare one of his drinks for you." Kojo gently pats the sleeping Abner and moves his current ale over to the short man. Ignoring the short mans impatience, he slowly picks up the letter and begins to read out loud for the group.
"Good gracious Tinder, how long have you been under this table? You know what, never mind, definitely don't want to know the answer to that. Going to focus on more important issues." Kojo grabs his mug and raises it with a nod to the bartender. He takes a hearty swig and allows some foam to remain on his lip. "For the record, its 10 AM"
Ignoring the finger directly in front of his face, Kojo takes a casual sip from his glass of water. "Always making quite the entrance Wax. However, you still can never seem to top the time you burst into class with your hair blazing." "But you are, if not always right, at least always hard to argue with. Lets conjure up something a little more appropriate." Turning toward the bar Kojo makes eye contact with the bartender and signals for more alcohol. "And I was doing quite well until you had to make that terrible 'singing day' joke. Again. But if music is what you are after, apparently Velmar is going dazzle us with his ocarina."
A pint in hand and an almost empty glass of water on the table, Kojo feels himself finally starting to relax as he sits at the tavern table with his old friends. Returning home for Signing Day had so far mostly led to awkward conversations and failed attempts to avoid anyone who knew him (which of course in this small town was essentially everyone). As it had been back in high school, Kojo found comfort and acceptance among the Order. Hell, with this crew Kojo could even be confused as some sort of outgoing person. "So I got wind of this lake that apparently was home to either a mermaid or some kind of water spirit, depending on who you asked and how much they had been drinking. You know me and water, so I figured I would have a better chance than the locals at interacting with the creature and maybe stir up some treasure." Part of the reason for Kojo's isolation from the rest of the town was his strange affinity with water. He wasn't a spell caster or a cleric of any ability that could be identified (and therefore accepted), but none-the-less he could manipulate water and even conjure it from nothing. To help emphasize his point, Kojo focuses on his drained glass of water briefly, and suddenly it fills up to the brim.
"So I head out to the lake. I had acquired a potion that, according to folklore, you had to drink half and pour the other half into the lake in order to receive an audience. Down the hatch and splash in the lake, potion is gone. For a few minutes nothing happens. I figure I probably got to get in the water before anything will happen so I start swimming out toward the middle. Next thing I know this blue glowing thing jumps from the water. Hard to describe it really, think approximately human shape but sleek with gills and fins attached to the arms and legs. After a smooth dive back into the water, this spirit swims over to me and all of a sudden I'm staring down a trident. The thing says 'you are a fool' and smacks me on the head. I passed out cold. Next thing I know I wake up completely naked on the shore." Kojo looks around the stable, pausing for effect. Then his cheeks start burning bright red. "Turns out the locals were having some fun with me. That potion was basically a hallucinogen. I have been told I basically just stripped down and swam around the lake calling out for the 'Lady of the Lake'. Finally one of the older women from the town convinced me to get out of the water and then smacked me over the head with a frying pan so I would shut up. Good people though. They were so entertained they housed and fed me for a week." |