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Rutilux speaks no ingnan and wonders for a moment if he should have used a breeze to stir the smoke but a bit late now. At the mention of equpping, he perks up "Oh aye, Rutilux Freewind , sirs. Nice to meet you. And as my friends have stated, we're not meaning harm."
Rutilux follows, yet, and is forced to be... dare we say it? Sneaky!
Okay, might be some noise, but at least it's further back. Oh dear.
Rutilux pauses when the others make motions, holding near Sasha until motioned forward
"What's wrong with them? Well, clearly the problem is they have too much money for the limited amount of sense they have, fortunately there are Hin Merchants to restore the balance." Rutilux answers with a grin. "Give my people a century of peace and we'll try to make sure only folks with sense have too much coin."
"None taken, the luxury market is a fine way to make fistfuls of coin if you have the right customer bracket and a trend starts. I once had a cousin who sold 'Kara Tur Ivy' under the pretense it produced healthy humors that maintained good looking complexions by filling the air," a faux aside, "And that's how Athkatla ended up with a Kudzu problem that took 3 months to clear up."
Rutilux nods "In the memory of the moon, we are all remembered and perhaps we are all enteral. If we end up sharing an afterlife or even visit I'll try to get my hands on some good ale for us." He ponders what drinks might exist in Selene's realm. "Probably great stuff."
Rutilux listens, and his eyebrows shoot up "I didn't know Gnolls aged that quickly, relatively speaking. Does explain a lot... and lets me know how you look at life better than I did before." As always his mind looks towards solutions... rumors of potions that restore youth, certain items that slow aging... when his brain gets to the idea of a 'Lich Gnoll' well that's just too terrible to think on for long. And, it's not a problem that needs FIXED is it, Rutilux? It's just how it is no more no less. "I'll try not to let my guilt weigh down too much then. Let's make sure you live through this to be a very old and very wise gnoll."
Honestly that's terrifying! Give the poor Hin a heart attack :)
Rutilux looks at The gnoll, "Bah. You speak bluntly, but I know your heart is a good one. Sides, I tend to over sweeten at time so I can't judge you. I appreciate your wisdom, truly." then to answer the question, "25 years old which, were I human would probably be closer to 22 or so... we halflings live longer by humans by JUST a little bit. Something we don't advertise so they don't get jealous of our minor edge of years. Besides, compared to elves or even dwarves that's nothing anyway. I've family that would push that I'm old enough to get serious about finding a wife, a nice Hin girl of sweet but mercantile disposition would be THEIR preference." He chuckles at that with a shake of his head "Part of the problem with being a halfling among non halflings is folks tend to compare us to human children despite the obvious differences in appearances. Pats on the head, 'where are YOU going, young lad?' etc. Gets annoying. You folks have been so much better than that, thank you. If I got treated like a child among this lot, well, I'd throw a right proper tantrum," He says with wry humor, "THAT would teach folks."
Rutilux chuckles at the first part, "To the point, as ever. Thank you." The second part gets no chuckle but rather a nod, "Aye. Good points indeed." He still looks thoughtful but talking about it with Shaggar and the others seems to have helped him. As the party makes their way to the Anvil Quarter Sasha and Pheliks pad along as quietly as they are able. The noise of the massive gates opening and (presumably) anvils being used is shocking. After a grimace at the sound and looking around for signs of danger converging on them Sasha shrugs and turns resolutely to follow Shaggar into the new portion of the ruined city. "Think these dwarves are alive still? Or more undead...?" she asked, not really expecting an answer from her remaining companions. "I suspect the latter but hope for the former."
Rutilux strokes Pheliks’ side a bit if the big cat allows as he listens to Sasha.
For his part, Pheliks might be a good listener...or not. It's impossible to know, really, as the feline might be listening or asleep and none of them would be able to tell the difference. It doesn't seem to bother Sasha, though, as she continues. "It's not just the stone above or the shadow all around...it's the effects it has on the people you love and the innocent folk hurt by all the evil that seems to soak into the very rocks. Even our best help is provided by an undead creature that eats memories..." She shudders a bit at the memory of the after-effects of her sacrifice. Shaking her head, Sasha settles back and closes her eyes, much like her companion, and might drift to sleep as she waits for Shaggar to return. If Rutilux speaks with her she responds without opening her eyes, engaging in the conversation very comfortably from the relative safety of the backs of her eyelids. ”Aye. It’s grim. I don’t like bargaining with such beings but maybe that’s what Selene needs me for here? Not the thunder and the storm, but the ole sales pitch, so much for future legendary tales of me riding storm clouds and coming to the rescue THAT way, but like you say, innocent folk are at risk. Legacy and such can stay in the vanity closet for me I suppose. Thanks, Sasha. On the plus side, we ARE doing some good, bit by bit. Maybe that cloak is a sign that Selene is still looking out for us even down here? And she’s proud of you… oh and maybe giving me a good review in the Baldur’s Broadsheets.”
Rutilux offers a small flask ”Not much to go around, more’s the pity. But at least it is not Goat Piss. Shame we can’t find teasure of Halfling’s Help in bottles.”
It’s a fair question, ”Not exactly, support, not fix. Share the load and thus ease it? Sometimes we guard others not just with our blades or spells, but just by ready to act as a buffer to their fears. Maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference. But regardless, I feel I’ve been insensitive to a friend and that’s not who I want to be.”
"Sorry, a couple of things. My greatest failing as a merchant is I don't always read the customer as I should . But that's... that's just money. Now I feel like I failed to read Kiley when had I been ready to help her before the issue was pressed, I could have made a difference. It's one thing to not read a customer's wants. It's another for me to be blind and deaf to a friend's distress until it's too late. That, and I do miss top side badly. I miss the real sun, I miss buttered biscuits rolled in decadent gravy, and I miss a pint of the best ale outside the rail of a Tavern porch with a breeze in my hair. Still THAT I know how to fix. We save those gnomes, save the day, and go home heroes... I mean, there ARE steps in between but that's the gist." the halfling tries to rally his cheer back but it's obviously a bit forced.
Level 5
Rutilux nodded at Sasha's words, the holy woman having said it better than he could. When Shaggar returns, the halfling seems thoughtful and pensive.
"While it's beyond my ability and not my type of magic, I've traveled enough to hear of spells that can Entrap a Spirit into an object that's properly prepared and magicked. This sounds like a very good lead," He tries to perk up at the notion despite his worry for Kiley.
"Perhaps she could guard the svirfneblin? If trouble comes they could use a warrior like her?"
Rutilux notices Kiley Crumble and looks unsure what if anything he can do about it. He is sympathetic, after all, he feels similar if not as strongly about snakes.
"You've the right of it, sir. We seek knowledge again. Anything you know about the weakness of Umbral dragons, news of the ghost of a mad dwarven king and where his spirit can be found and so forth to be straight forward about it."
For a moment, the halfling looks perplexed, "Hmm? Oh!" Realization kicks in, "Did you think you offended me pointing out I have small legs? I'm not offended i move slower. It's a fact as you say. And it's something to take into account for tactics and such which I admit, as a merchant raised Hin I've little training in. I'm quite proud to be a Halfling, we Hin are an amazing people." He assures her, "Now you running off without so much as a warning? THAT had me befuddled and worried for you but if the dragon fear somehow got you, it got you. Just at the time I HAD hoped you could give us a headsup but not like you planned to race off it seems. If I sounded surly earlier, well that might have been on account of my emptying my guts thanks to that horrid monster. Embarrassing that."
"I'm sorry I slow folks down, and the cloak MIGHT work for me that way as I worship Selune, though not just her, but since Sasha wants it, and she is far more devout in her faith than I, I think she should have it even if it means Shaggar might have to give me undignified piggy back rides assuming he's willing.. I do agree we should head back to the archive."
"If you're all done mocking the hard working halfling.." The ill halfling says as he (presumably?) recovers "You might want to know this is a Cloak of the nightsky. Nice item, Protects the wearer from heat and cold if they sleep with it on, and I THINK even makes non-heavy armor bearable for slumber as well. It can act like a lodestone for direction once a day. I believe those who follow Selene gain additional benefits..." At the talk of the papers and the King, he frowns "A Mad King, good for bard stories, bad for free trade."
Rutilux can do nothing but go to a corner, he hopes is safe for now, and perhaps throw up. Truly, there is little sadder than a helpless hurling hin!
Rutilux is normally the one who dishes out dangerous sounds and thunders... not so much this time and he falls down, feeling wretched!
(For his round 2 action) Rutilux keeps running towards the doors, and sees they've been opened. From this angle he sees no foe though.
"Did you all hear that?" Rutilux breaks into a run towards the building.
Rutilux is yoinked, gently.
"Yes, we appreciate your willingness to negotiate, and I am prone to it," He says almost sheepishly. "I'll gab all day sometimes if folks let me so, Sasha is probably right."
"Your pardon, but there's a LOT of ways a relationship can be ended, some of them less ... pleasant than others. Dead gnomes would be of no use to us, for example. Could we clarify that the ending of the relationship as you mention would keep both the gnomes AND us alive if we did this for you?" Rutilux's tone is upbeat and warm, even if he has his own concerns about this deal regardless.
Rutilux hears Kiley call the creature an Umbral dragon and he doesn't doubt her, but he tries to remember any old stories on how to placate them or at least how they think.. Got to know the customer if you want to close the deal, or at least live to keep on in the trade
"Indeed,clearly a creature of your station and power doesn't 'need' anything from us, but the generous offer of your conversation is appreciated."
Rutilux blinks as Ari vanishes and races off, and then says "Pardon her, she's been holding her bladder for at least a half hour , you know how it is." A sheepish shrug and hoping they do not all now die.
Rutilux winces as Sasha's approach might not be ..as diplomatic as he'd like. "My colleague is not normally so brusque, but we ARE filled with curiosity on many matters. Might we have more details on our assurances and the expectations on us in return should we attend this invitation?"
"Easy, Shaggar," He whispers "It's a gamble, I admit, and you're right not trust but we might learn a lot too and knowledge can be useful." He looks to the others to see what they think. The halfling prides himself on winning folks over so perhaps thinks talking works to his strength. Of course, something called "The Black Hunger" isn't likely to be all tea and biscuits.
"Ah, I think I'll stay further back this time given my noisy showing before," He gives a sheepish look at that.
Rutilux regales them with the qualities of the predator-tooth dagger
But alas "And that's about all I got on that."
Rutilux notices the 'message' Shaggar sends with the head, and nods.He casts detect magic over some of the items retrieved and if anything shows as such , he tells his friends.
The halfling chuckles a bit abashed, "I was trying to provoke them into coming out were we wouldn't be at the chokepoints; break up their formation a bit? Where we could waylay THEM. I honestly did bait a group of humans out of a tavern once with that ploy, worked like a charm..." He considers "They WERE very drunk though."
"He's trying to turn invisi..." Their sorcerer starts to warn them... but then a head falls off and bounces, "Nevermind."
Rutilux stamps his foot and a ripple of power attempts to knock prone the Trog in front of Pheliks.
Rutilux curses, and realizes he can't cast in that smoke safely to aim and a wide spell would hurt a friend, but he can perhaps snag one near Shaggar. Squeezing in behind Pheliks he angles and lets loose a spell, one that is sure to hurt the ears of his target upon the northern most trog.
Rutilux opens the door he knocked on ,and sends the dancing lights in the form of one faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape into the smoke, hoping to draw foes out into view!
Rutilux hears they are ready, and gulps now afraid to open the door. Rather, he casts a spell of protection upon himself
Rutilux nods and heads to the north door
Two infants with a... good grief, when this group retires he never gets to work the front desk. To the archivist "Thank you so much for the map and your help.." The halfling claps his hands almost eager "Anvil Quarter sounds good to me as well for a first drop by."
"Is there a pass stone or other way that leads to the surface? Not that I plan to cut and run immediately, but always nice to have a way to get new supplies and the like then come back" The halfling doubts it is that easy, but if there is one he'd kick himself if he didn't ask.
given name was Princess Sugarsparkles," Well, THAT'S in my head now. Rutilux is too worried about Sasha to make more of it, but files it away for later, and nods as their ranger friend gets to the point.
A whisper "Sasha, are you ... all right?"
Rutilux gapes, "And here I was just going to share my memories of Neverwinter's Blacklake district."
Rutilux arches a brow "Wait, do we keep these thoughts or memory and just share, or do you take them from us forever? Seems an important clause to consider... exclusive rights to the subject matter is far different from right to copy."
"Ah, Archivist Velithar or formerly known as at least. We'd be delighted to help you I'm sure. How do we revitalize you specifically? Find some books for you? Share our lore in turn?"
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