"You know, in a few days we should send that little feller a very short bottle of chablis. You know, sorta an apology-wise. Just a small gesture."
"anyone?"
~sees his joke fall on deaf ears but very much considering the 'offer' Priapus finishes his meal~
Turning to Seamus, Merian offers him a slight, and somewhat chilly, bow. "You need no longer defend him, sirrah," she says, "I am content with the apology he has offered."
I smile warmly and bow back. I finger an ornamental dagger between my hands as I speak, but I treat it as an object, rather than a weapon. "Indeed, fair lady, thou hast my gratitude. For want of a good reason, I would hate to cross --
I look at the dagger as if just noticing it."Oh dear," I say, with a flat affect, as if reading a script. "What have we here? It wouldst appear to be a kirk. Quite impressive, by the look of it. Almost surely, Lord Granger's. I should return it to him."
In a normal tone of voice, I finish, "And then, may we talk?"
I exit the bar, following after Lord Granger, hoping to catch up.
"Yes but I am no puppet on a string, though.... I can put on a good puppet show if the need arises."
"Well, maybe the strings are loose enough that some gold will make it into our pockets too."
" You never can tell. By the by, where hast thou friend fly?"
"I think he went to water a dirt beetle."
Idiah watches Brother Seamus rise from the table with the dagger and follow Lord Granger out the door.
"Just as I thought. He is a fool for the lash."
~She blushes, realizing that the Chelish adage might give away her origins.
~She sips at her ale.
"Your Lordship!" I call, once I'm in range.
"Your Lordship, after thou left the inn, I didst discover this knife, by the table where thou hadst stood. Thinking such a fine blade must have a like owner, I sought thee out to return it. Is it thine, or should I look elsewhere for its owner?"
If Lord Granger travels with a servant, I hand the dagger to that person. Else, I hold it by both ends, displayed for him to see.
"You know Idiah I can all but place your accent. Oh well, Time for more beer."
|
"Your Lordship, after thou left the inn, I didst discover this knife, by the table where thou hadst stood. Thinking such a fine blade must have a like owner, I sought thee out to return it. Is it thine, or should I look elsewhere for its owner?"
If Lord Granger travels with a servant, I hand the dagger to that person. Else, I hold it by both ends, displayed for him to see.
Brother Seamus,
Where did you get that? And yes, that is mine.
"By the table, where Your Lordship was standing. The men and women were all making merry as you left, and I didst look to the table and see it."
"I am no friend of Your Lordship. Thy scorn earlier this evening made mine investigations more difficult. But right is right, and this belongs to thee."
And I hand him his dagger with a formal bow.
"By your leave, then." And I back away three steps, and then turn to walk back to the Inn.
Are Kael and the others still sitting at the same table?
~ Looks up as Brother Seamus re-enters the room ~
"Ah there you are, done watering the earth-beetle are you? Come and have a libation with us. What was your name again?"
Merian looks dubious at the idea of sharing a drink with Seamus, but does not speak up. She does eye him warily, however.
~Priapus stares longingly up at Merian, shakes his head and says,
"Time for a song!"
~gets up and heads for the minstrel~
I come over to the table with a bounce in my step, but my words, though jovial, are quiet. I take pains to make sure that no one outside the party can read my lips. "Good evenings and fair tidings. Has Kael introduced me yet?
"My name is Seamus; I be new in town an' on a quest of sorts. And tonight, good Kael, I think we've made progress passing fair."
I catch Merian's and Idiah's expressions. "Good ladies, on mine immortal soul, I pray your forgiveness for the flummery earlier. 'Watering the earth-beetle' indeed, o' gnome. Lord Peacock be a fair mark, having grieved us all with his bluster, and every con needeth its roper.
"Might I join you at table?"
" Key of C if you would kind Brie....
Now, I am a dragon. Please listen to me
For I'm misunderstood to a dreadful degree.
This ecology needs me and I know my place.
But I'm fighting extinction with all of my race.
Well, I came to this village to better my health
Which is shockingly poor, despite all my wealth.
But I get no assistance and no sympathy,
Just impertinent questioning shouted at me.
Yessss, virgins taste better than those who are not.
But my favorite snack food with peril is fraught.
For my teeth will decay and my trim go to pot.
Yet virgins taste better than those who are not.
Now, we Worms are deep thinkers; at science we shine,
But our world's complicated with every new line.
We must quit all the things that we've done since the Flood
Like, lying on gold couches poisons our blood!
Well, I'm really quite good almost all through the year.
Vegetarian ways are now mine out of fear.
But a birthday needs sweets as I'm sure you'll agree.
And barbecued wench tastes like candy to me!
As it happens our interests are almost the same.
For I'm really quite skillful at managing game.
If I ate just your men, would your excess decline?
Of course not, the rest would just make better time
But the number of babies a woman can bear
Has a limit, and that's why my prunings done there.
Yet an orphan's a sad sight and so when I munch.
I'm careful to take out a virgin for lunch....."
1d20+7=21 Perform Sing
" Wait wait... Brie, we sang it out of order. How, how, how many beers have I been drinking?
A dragon has come to our village today.
We've asked him to leave, but he won't go away.
Now he's talked to our king and they worked out a deal.
No homes will he burn and no crops will he steal.
Now there is but one catch, we dislike it a bunch.
Twice a year he invites him a virgin to lunch.
Well, we've no other choice, so the deal we'll respect.
But we can't help but wonder and pause to reflect.
Do virgins taste better than those who are not?
Are they salty, or sweeter, more juicy or what?
Do you savor them slowly? Gulp them down on the spot?
Do virgins taste better than those who are not?
Now we'd like to be shed you, and many have tried.
But no one can get through your thick scaly hide.
We hope that some day, some brave knight will come by.
'Cause we can't wait around 'til you're too fat to fly.
Now you have such good taste in your women for sure,
They always are pretty, they always are pure.
But your notion of dining, it makes us all flinch,
For your favorite entree is barbecued wench.
Now we've found a solution, it works out so neat,
If you insist on nothing but virgins to eat.
No more will our number ever grow small,"
~Looks at Merian~
"We'll simply make sure there's no virgins at all!"
Sing perform 1d20+7 = 23
"Thats the first song"
Despite herself, Merian manages to catch the mood of the inn, and her glower softens into a grin by the time the gnome and barmaid finish their songs.
As for getting rid of the virgin supply...
"Seems to me that the men would be more replaceable," she says, leaning over to whisper to Idiah and Tess.
|
|
Despite herself, Merian manages to catch the mood of the inn, and her glower softens into a grin by the time the gnome and barmaid finish their songs.
As for getting rid of the virgin supply...
"Seems to me that the men would be more replaceable," she says, leaning over to whisper to Idiah and Tess.
Merian and Aldan,
Oh, Merian. I don't know. This one seems like a keeper! ~she winks at Aldan and squeezes his hand again~
Priapus,
To Kael, in Common:
"Huhn. Colors, and good music as well. I feel decadent here on the surface."
Despite herself, Merian manages to catch the mood of the inn, and her glower softens into a grin by the time the gnome and barmaid finish their songs.
As for getting rid of the virgin supply...
"Seems to me that the men would be more replaceable," she says, leaning over to whisper to Idiah and Tess.
Merian and Aldan,
Oh, Merian. I don't know. This one seems like a keeper! ~she winks at Aldan and squeezes his hand again~
Aldan smiles, enjoying the performance quietly.
Idiah laughs at Merian's joke, but claps and cheers along with the rest of the tavern at Priapus' and Brie's performance.
She overhears Seamus' comment,
To Kael, in Common:
"Huhn. Colors, and good music as well. I feel decadent here on the surface."
"Oh? Are you a miner, Seamus?" ~she doubts this, but is curious about him.
To Kael, in Common:
"Huhn. Colors, and good music as well. I feel decadent here on the surface."
"Decadent... well, maybe a little. The wine sure is better... and the women are taller."
"Oh? Are you a miner, Seamus?"
"Nay, not I personally. Though I come from the Society of Kurgess, a mining folk. We have lived miles below ground for centuries, first as ghoul-chattel, and then as a lost but free people."
"Ghoul-chattel?"
~Idiah shudders. And she thought her past was bad!
Merian turns to stare at Seamus in surprise. "Your people have lived in the Darklands for centuries?" She looks toward the door, where Granger disappeared minutes before, then looks back to Seamus again. "Then why would you defend that... man?" she asks. "He is not your lord, is he?"
I smile, showing a row of jumbled, but chalk-white teeth. "I've sworn no fealty to His Lordship, so, unless he ruleth these lands around us, I owe him nothing.
"And I stood for him, and returned his dagger, to prepare for such a day as when he may needs be taught a lesson.
"But now, I am passing curious as to what the Lady Chautessa wants with us."
"Brother Seamus has a good heart but is as sly as any I have known. He being of the sly sort is a wisdom that is beyond me. My thoughts tend to not bend as much. Though, I am learning."
~ Flops down in a chair reeking of sweat and Beer ~
" Wooh that tuckers me out"
I laugh at Kael's question. "I have known rock-eaters, Kael. Thou art no rock-eater."
"I wouldst be polite to these folks and answer you in the surface tongue, but my brother's advice carrieth more wit in its original language:
Dahr 'olapi terrence knore, derro la'peat arant snoor.
Literally, something like: 'Don't kindle thy flame until thou art ready to strike the derro'. More conversationally, "Show not thy cards before bets are in."
Gnome Fun Fact #1: A gnome can smell colors.
Gnome Fun Fact #2: Male gnomes like wearing pointed hats, but female gnomes prefer crazy hairstyles.
Gnome Fun Fact #3: When a gnome is crying, it's just because she can't think of something to laugh about.
Gnome Fun Fact #4: Gnomes can actually cut off the flow of blood to their brains and pass out simply by smiling too hard.
Gnome Fun Fact #5: A gnome's heart is on the right side of his chest, and it beats in reverse.
Gnome Fun Fact #6: Gnomes stole this fun fact from #7.
Gnome Fun Fact #8: Gnomes only have red blood when the blood is directly observed.
Gnome Fun Fact #9: Gnome fingernails and toenails actually CEASE TO GROW while they sleep.
Gnome Fun Fact #10: A mushroom is what happens if a gnome stays still for too long.
compliments of Cappa from another thread
"Nicely done, little one. Hast thou and thy partner been performing together long?"
I smile, showing a row of jumbled, but chalk-white teeth. "I've sworn no fealty to His Lordship, so, unless he ruleth these lands around us, I owe him nothing.
"And I stood for him, and returned his dagger, to prepare for such a day as when he may needs be taught a lesson.
Merian frowns, but not with disapproval. It is a considering expression, and she nods, very slightly.
"But now, I am passing curious as to what the Lady Chautessa wants with us."
"As am I," Merian replies, looking around for the hostess. "I've never known her to be this mysterious before, but it seems as though much has changed in the time I've been gone."
Aldan,
~Tess looks at you~ So tell me more about yourself.
"Well, my parents were skilled Magi, so I naturally picked up the talent. I studied from a young age, and applied to a college a full two years younger then their minimum age requirement. It took my parents some time, but after much deliberation, I was finally accepted. I graduated among the top of my class with a specialty in Divination magic, and left to see the world for myself. I've been many places, and came here by chance. I have a sense that this place is the true beginning of my journey.
"Ahem. Sorry for the rant, very sorry!" Aldan looks around the table of guests and stands, introducing himself to the people around, bows to them, and sits.
"Nicely done, little one. Hast thou and thy partner been performing together long?"
"Just met her this evening. Lovely lady, quite skilled."