Adventurers Wanted IC

[Benson]

http://i45.tinypic.com/2aih5qg.jpg

14th of Eratus, 4708 AR

3:00 PM

Regardless from where one travels in Varisia, at some point everyone finds their way to Korvosa. Okay, that's probably not true, but, you yourselves have found your way to the grand Cheliaxian city of Korvosa, so yea. Uh.

Anyways, you can feel the salty air fly on gentle breeze as you enter the city from various points of entry. Those who came in via the midland entrance would no doubt see the colorful circus set up advertising all sorts of wonders and attractions. Already crowds were gathering around to see for themselves what this circus had to offer. Posters for the All-seeing Hajeck fortune teller, ooh...and one of the more interesting attractions, encounters with Jherizhana the sphinx.

As you enter the city you are stopped by the city guards who do a weapons check on you and your person. You are told to keep your weapons sheathed and if that is not possible, to wield common sense and respect at least. But other than that you aren't given much trouble and are welcomed into the city, so as long as you all keep yourself out of trouble, or so the guards warn.

Looming off in the far distance in the Heights district stands Castle Korvosa atop the Grand Mastaba, a four-sided sandstone pyramid that is built to a cyclopean scale, its black marble towers contrasting against the brown and reds of the city and blue of the sky.

As for the city, it finds itself filled with the chorus of the hustle and bustle of daily life, and, the sounds of festivity on the horizon. Yes, it is that time of the year again for the citizens of Korvosa, the Founding Day Festival, celebration of the anniversary of the city's founding; A day of alcohol, fireworks, and extravagant displays of magical prowess that light the city into the wee hours of the following morning. The smells of delicious food fills the air, the sounds of lively music worm their ways into ears, you came at a good time.

Eventually you make your way to the *South Shore district, the newest addition to the city, you'll find it less cramped and more roomy and open air than the rest of the city. It possesses itself a noveu riche feel to it with its newer and nice looking architecture and ladies dressed in fancy colorful dresses going out for their strolls, walking their tiny dogs.

Up ahead is the popular Bard's End. As you get closer one can see a statue of a voluptuous woman of great beauty wearing a scandalous white dress that leaves little to the imagination, in her right hand she wields a glaive. Oddly, it manages to look both trashy and classy all at once. Anyways, she stands there with a rose in the other hand, as if though forever greeting guests to this artsy fartys tavern. The double door before you is gilded with gold and awaits for you.

*Reference Map

http://i46.tinypic.com/2cwnzgz.jpg

OOC Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=269692)

[Mystic Muse]

Gabrielle takes in a few of the sights, and looks around to see what all the hustle and bustle is about. Oooh, a real sphinx? That sounded interesting.

She was stopped by the guards, which she expected. She had kept her scythe sheathed the entire time, so there was nothing to worry about there.

She was quite fond of the music, even going so far as to pull her trumpet out and play along at points.

Gabrielle stands a bit to look at the statue of Shellyn, after which, she'll head on into the Bard's End Tavern. She was not overly fond of that name, but eh, nothing she can do about it.

If there's a spot available, she'll sit down at the bar area itself.

[Hawkflight]

Eventually you make your way to the *South Shore district ...

'Eventually' being the key word here. It had been ages since Elizabeth Starr had been to a festival ... in fact, the last one she'd been at had seen her still a slave. So when she entered the city, she couldn't help but explore the sights for a while. See the attractions, sample the local food ... oooh, maybe she could earn a few extra bits by showing off her gunplay skills!

[Lycan 01]

Flittering amongst the throng of people and patrons is a cloak-clad maiden with a somewhat elfy look about her, thanks to her slightly pointed ears and a lithe, petite build. She looks rather young, with vibrant red hair, piercing green eyes, and a sun-tanned complexion. Her freckled face forms an expression of enthralled fascination as she observes the various sights and sounds. "Oooooh... Aaaaaah... Ack!" The young lass narrowly side-steps being mowed down by some running children, her backpack and adventurer's sash jostling and clinking as she tries to maintain her balance. Her attire - form fitting linen tunic, heavy pants, sturdy boots, and a well-weathered cloak - seem like something a seasoned explorer would wear, rather than a pretty little thing like her.

But as they say, appearances are deceiving. This is especially true for Changelings.

Under the guise of a red-haired half-elf, the manipulative little shapeshifter makes her way through the lively city until arriving in front of the tavern. "Bard's End... Hm. Well that's totally not foreboding..." she grumbles under her breath. "Oh well. Good thing I'm not a bard today." And with that little quip, she pushes the door open and saunters on inside.

[Trobby]

Finally, she had arrived.

It had taken many days of traveling on foot to reach the gates to the city of Korvosa, heartland of the Cheliaxian empire, but by cutting across the wilderness, she had managed to make it to the city as quickly as possible.

She brushed the long strands of black hair away from her eyes, and looked up at the well-armed Cheliaxian men before her. They seemed to be waiting for something from her.

"Weapons Check." One of them said.

It took her a few moments contemplation, and rolling the words around in her head, before finally coming up with a response.

"They're in good condition."

The guard grimaced a bit. He'd heard that one already today.

"Very funny. Come on now, weapons check."

She looked up at him with an earnest and puzzled expression. Nevertheless, she held out her sword to the man, handle-first, so he could examine its quality. She knew for a fact it was in good condition, but if it meant peaceful passage into the city, she would allow him to check her weapon.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Entering the city, her eyes widened at the sheer volume of people and activity going on. Her mentor had told her that the city of Korvosa, and all Cheliaxian cities, were constantly swarming with people and over-excitement, and now she could see it for herself. Several of the locals offered her various skewered meats and fruits, but she had no time for food. Not until her task was complete.


---------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, she made her way into the South Shore district, gazing in awe at the miniature hounds that the noblewomen kept. How could such small creatures ever hope to catch a stag? Perhaps they were for hunting smaller game...

At last she had come to the Bard's End. She was told that the name of this location was a humorous play on words, but she had never been able to make sense of it. Surely, it would be a sad moment to see a bard come to his end? Still more perplexing was the statue, which held a glaive in one hand, and a rose in another. No warrior could properly wield a glaive that way, and certainly wouldn't be caught dead in so little armor...or perhaps they would. Perhaps the grim humor was there after all.

Not cracking a smile at the misconceived joke, Shokah entered through the shining gilded doors and into the tavern.

[Benson]

Elizabeth Starr

Miss Starr, distracted, would find herself among the traveling Varisian circus known as the Umbra Carnival. To be exact, the Parade Grounds a vast open field in the center serving as a hub. Vendors wander amongst the crowds of people here, selling food, streamers, and flowers. Its rather colorful, music-wise, here with Varisian musicians playing lively folk tunes, inviting visitors to join in their revery. Also here lies the box office where folks stood in line to purchase tickets to the attractions and tickets for the circus show later on.

Many civilian folks stop to stare at her, but given the circus here most think her as part of the crew. Several circus guards patrol the area and stand guard at some of the tents and merchant tables.

Miss Starr would soon find herself being tugged by her tail by small hands. The tug is gentle and if she turned around she would see a small girl of six with big brown eyes looking at her as if though she was the most awesomest thing she saw. "Wwwwwow....your tail is real...and soft......"
=============

Bard's End

As for the tavern, it itself is quite the large inn and tavern of the three story variety and well kept, well lit and clean. Inside, it seems to have an opulent style, as if borrowing design elements of Kelish-ite design. (Think Persian palace). It is just really nice inside with a small ornately designed fountain nine feet in front of the door. However instead of water, it seemed to have *liquid gold flowing into its basin. The color scheme of the place finds itself favoring white and gold.

Several paintings adorn the walls. Bleached bone white tables scatter the open area, at least nine large tables and four smaller 2-3 seater tables. At the opposite end of the tavern is a medium sized stage where at the moment is occupied by a young Chelish male bard with short floppy black hair entertaining a small gathered crowd of mostly young women with some lively fiddle music. As for patrons, aside from the small 4-5 crowd of young women and the bard, there are about twelve other folk in here, mostly all human with an elven waiter going about fetching drink orders, and a tough looking half orc watching the bard. Some folks are chatting with each other, playing card games as one Varisian man watches them with interest from three tables away.

At the entrance you would have been "greeted" by a Shoanti bouncer, female with a shaved head and intricate stocky tattoos adoring her head. She would give you but a glance and a quick once over letting you in. Though with Gabrielle she would quirk a brow at the sight of the horn before letting her in.






*Optional- A Spellcraft check surpassing a DC 15 reveals that this fountain is enchanted with a Major Image spell. Feel free to roll in the OOC to see if you get the extra info to add to your post.

[Trobby]

The opulence of such a place hardly phases Shokah, who has seen such illusions used in temples and supposedly 'sacred' areas, oft supplemented by misused artifacts. It served as a reminder to her of her duty in this town.

The Shoanti bouncer gave her some pause. It had been long since she had seen another Shoanti, and a wave of self-consciousness temporarily passed over her.

To a foreigner, she was instantly recognizable as a Shoanti, due to her pale skin and choice of clothing. Yet to another Shoanti, there were signs, subtle yet quite obvious to them, that she was not like other Shoanti. For one, a scarf neatly wrapped around her neck, beneath her locks of hair but still visible, was quite clearly Varisian design. And the features of her face were smooth in places most Shoanti would not have such smoothness. But her eyes, a pale sky blue, would have been enough for any Shoanti to recognize her lineage as half-Varisian.

But she would not let that bother her. Kin or villain, Shokah had her duty to attend to, and perhaps this one would be able to help her.

In a soft voice, and perfect Shoanti, she addressed the bouncer.

"Be well received, my cousin. I have traveled far from the mountains of the Shundar-Quar, in search of Lord Athrun Allster. Might you know him, and where to find him?"

[Mystic Muse]

Gabrielle stood out VERY obviously amongst the rest. Most people didn't have chalk-white skin, or a horn coming out of their head. Or a tail.

Basically, Gabrielle is not a normal person by almost any metric.

[Trobby]

Shokah is quite aware of this. She is doing her absolute best not to stare.

In the back of her mind, she wonders at the lack of reverence from the other tavern-goers, who do not immediately bow down before an obvious Goddess that has just entered the tavern. Perhaps it is more a holy place than she initially thought?

She glances towards her from time to time, wondering if she should be the first to kneel, or if any other patrons of this bar are gods that she has yet to recognize.

[Mystic Muse]

Gabrielle is sometimes pretty good at noticing when one is staring at her.

This is one of those times.

"Hello ma'am. How are you doing? The name is Gabrielle." She holds out her right hand to shake Shokah's, and has a rather dazzling smile.

[Benson]

The bouncer stared at Shokah for a good long moment, her eyes scrutinizing the half shoanti half varisian woman who approached her with an inquiry. As a bouncer you don't expect most folks to talk to you, except for drunks who act like you're some sort of villain for kicking them out.

"<Shundar-Quar?....That is quite the distance of travel in search of a man.>" That was probably the closest the bouncer would get to a joke, in all her deadpan monotone. She continued to speak in her Shoanti tongue. "<Anyways, I can assist you on your inquiry. The young bard on stage is who you seek. Earlier, he seemed rather adamant on letting his name be known to all.>"

[Trobby]

Shokah does not flinch at the bouncer's attempt at humor. Either it was that bad, or else Shokah is a bit naive even in her own culture.

<"Thank you, cousin. I shall speak with him immediately.">

This turned out to be a lie, through no fault on Shokah's part. As she was quite suddenly and directly addressed by a goddess.

Immediately she tensed. Her eyes went wide as she stared up at the pure white face of the Aasimar. Her voice failed her, and in doing so gave her but one course of action.

Before the goddess, she went down upon one knee, with her head lowered in reverence.

The back of her mind heard the words she spoke, though interpreted them entirely differently.

"I am honored by your presence, oh lady Gabrielle. I am Shokah, She Who Walks Two Worlds, of the Shundar-Quar. I am humble in thy presence."

Shokah sincerely hoped her reverence was great enough for this goddess. She was not in the mood to be turned into a pillar of salt for her insolence.

[Mystic Muse]

"Um...you...don't really need to kneel...that's kind of awkward." She says, wondering what's going through Shokah's head. Not the greatest first impression, Shokah.

[Trobby]

No, and likely attracting a LOT of attention right now. Though Shokah doesn't even seem to realize it.

She stands, though still seems quite anxious for reasons Gabrielle cannot place.

"As you wish, lady Gabrielle. What manner of task brings a goddess to these doors, oh lady?"

Aaah, that might shed a bit of light on matters.

[Lycan 01]

The Changeling traipses on into the bar, and smiles cheerfully at the bouncer. "Hiya!" she chimes, giving the woman a much more perky greeting than she is probably used to.

Once checked out and okay'd to enter, she begins to make her way over to the bar. However, the odd scene with the woman kneeling before the "goddess" grabs her attention, and gives her pause. "Huh. That's different..." she mutters to her self, keenly observing the two strangers. Particularly the pretty one with a horn growing out of her head.

Must... resist... urge... to mimic...

[Benson]

The bouncer watched the two still near the entrance and cleared her throat loudly for Gabrielle and Shokah to hear. "Please ma'ams, don't crowd the entrance here, please take this to the side." She said gruffly but politely, her arms crossed over her chest.

Over at the bar, Luci is approached by the bartender who is currently filling up some drinks for the elven waiter to bring to the patrons. The bartender themselves is an older Chelish man with light skin and long black hair put up in a braid and he has a small strip of peach fuzz over his chin. Looking at his eyes, shows that he probably has some Varisian blood in him.

"Quite a sight there eh?" He conversationally asked to Luci briefly glancing over his shoulder as he filled up mugs at the keg. "I wonder if they're dressed up for the Founding Day's festival....or part of that circus outside of town."

[TheAmishPirate]

You know, a pony would've been an amazing idea.

Melindy missed the fine living bad enough; no travel bread or roadside stew would ever sit quite as well as a freshly grilled steak, taken with a glass of aged wine by a seaside sunset. No matter how one padded a bedroll, it would never rest as comfortably as a fine mattress with silk sheets. And all the taverns in all the world couldn't hope to match the hospitality of just one toast of fellow hands after cracking the latest impossible job. Yet, of all that was left behind, there was nothing she'd want more right now than a simple, stupid, pony. No one had ever told her that trekking long distances with a gimp leg would take ages, and certainly nobody told her how awkward she'd look carrying her weight in worldly possessions on her back.

Maybe I should ask next time then? 'Oh hello, fine sir, I see you've got a twig where your arm used to be, spare any advice for a newcomer?'

The thought brought a little chuckle out of her. In all fairness, she'd done well enough at salvaging the situation too. Her fine clothes were well packed up, along with her personal jewelery and effects. Her sling-staff still served her well, even after all these years of hanging on her wall. And who could've guessed how conjuring a little smidgen of water in an upstart guard's pants would never get old?

Speaking of upstart guards, a few of them were stationed just up ahead; time to thoroughly abuse her stature.

When her turn came, the guards would see a halfling with brown hair and green eyes, dressed in traditional traveling garb with a breastplate peeking out around the edges of her shirt. She walked with a pronounced limp, favoring her left leg and using a decorative staff - with a rather innocuous strap of leather at the top - as a walking stick. Other than that, no obvious weapons, unless there was one hidden in the mountain of a backpack she wore. "Sirs, will I have to give up my stick?" she asked in a pleading, subservient tone, clutching the precious stick to her. "She can whack a cut-purse well enough, but she won't be any trouble, I promise."

(Feel free to continue on in the bar, Melindy will be arriving shortly.)

[Benson]

One of the guards at the entrance quirked a brow at the halfling and knelt down in front of Melindy to be at relative eye level. The other guard sorta just rolled their eyes and continued to keep an eye on the other travelers. Because of that damn circus, people were coming and going at a never ending rate between the circus and city.

The kneeling guard gave Melindy a smile and bobbed his head. Halflings to him, were just adorable. They were like little people, with tiny hands, tiny feet and you just wanted to pinch their cheeks and dress them up!

"Oh ma'am....you don't have to worry about your walking stick being taken away from you, just don't go beating and tripping people, and then we'll have no issues," There was a slight tone of amusement, like he couldn't take what Melindy was seriously. Though as a boon for Melindy, it distracted him enough that he glossed over most of his guard duty in regards to weapon checking and what not.

"Welcome to Korvosa madam." He said reaching a finger to poke her cheek out of curiosity. The other guard rolled their eyes again.

[Hawkflight]

Elizabeth Starr

Miss Starr, distracted, would find herself among the traveling Varisian circus known as the Umbra Carnival. To be exact, the Parade Grounds a vast open field in the center serving as a hub. Vendors wander amongst the crowds of people here, selling food, streamers, and flowers. Its rather colorful, music-wise, here with Varisian musicians playing lively folk tunes, inviting visitors to join in their revery. Also here lies the box office where folks stood in line to purchase tickets to the attractions and tickets for the circus show later on.

Many civilian folks stop to stare at her, but given the circus here most think her as part of the crew. Several circus guards patrol the area and stand guard at some of the tents and merchant tables.

Miss Starr would soon find herself being tugged by her tail by small hands. The tug is gentle and if she turned around she would see a small girl of six with big brown eyes looking at her as if though she was the most awesomest thing she saw. "Wwwwwow....your tail is real...and soft......"

Eliza knelt down to be eye-level with the small girl. "Why, thank you," she said, a smile gracing her features. "It's really hard to keep fur clean when you travel a lot," she added with a wink.

[Lycan 01]

The "half-elf" looks back over her shoulder at the two eccentric patrons. "I dunno," she muses with a shrug. "One's too regal and fancy for a circus act, the other is too rugged and badass-looking." Well that's one way to put it.

The incognito Changeling gives another shrug, before looking back at the bartender. "If I had to guessssssss... I'd say they're here for the expedition thingy. Speaking of, any idea who I'm supposed to talk to 'bout that?" she asks with a cheery grin. "Oh, also, you wouldn't happen to know anything about a half-orc bard named Trog, would ya?" Hope sparkles in her eyes.

[Trobby]

The bouncer watched the two still near the entrance and cleared her throat loudly for Gabrielle and Shokah to hear. "Please ma'ams, don't crowd the entrance here, please take this to the side." She said gruffly but politely, her arms crossed over her chest.


<"My apologies, cousin. May the sun rise high in the sky."> Which Shokah knew was a traditional and very polite way to wish good tidings when leaving the company of a member of the Sklar-Quar.

"Milady Gabrielle, what brings you here upon this ominous hour?" She asks the Aasimar, while looking for a place for them to sit down.

[Benson]

The Umbra Circus Grounds

"Do you lick yourself clean like a kitty cat? Do you get hairballs too? Mommy says we can't have kitties in our home because they're stinky." She sniffed Elizabeth and stepped back. "You don't stink that bad, mommy's silly."
--------------


Bard's End

"Oh, I was just talking about the one with the horn...growth, whatever that is, my apologies for improper use of pronouns. The other one, we see her variety regularly." The bartender smirked and poured one last drink and set it on the counter as the elven waiter popped in to grab it.

"Half orc bard named Trog? Mmmm....I just started working here a couple weeks ago...can't say I have...maybe when the boss lady swings by later on, you could ask her, she's been around for ages, maybe she knows something," He told her as he glanced up in thought and rubbed at his little chin strip.

"Anyways, all expedition stuff, I think that bard on stage mentioned something about that." He then leaned forward, his elbow on the counter as he looked at Luci.

"So, what sort of drink can I get ya? Are you a honey mead type of gal?" His tone slightly flirty in that testing the waters sort of way.
-

The bouncer woman nodded at Shokah a tiny smile on her face before reverting back to a grim line as Shokah walked away. Back to business.

[Hawkflight]

The Umbra Circus Grounds

"Do you lick yourself clean like a kitty cat? Do you get hairballs too? Mommy says we can't have kitties in our home because they're stinky." She sniffed Elizabeth and stepped back. "You don't stink that bad, mommy's silly."

Eliza rolled the words around in her head for a moment before replying.

"No, we use shampoos or herbal mixtures to clean our fur. No, we don't get hairballs. And yes, we do have a distinct smell, it's how we recognize each other," she replied.

[Lycan 01]

The petite "half-elf" gives the bartender a small smile. "Oh, no thank you. I'm terrible at holding my liquor." Which is true. She's also terrible at holding her disguises while drunk. She looks up at the bard for a moment, before turning her gaze back to the bartender. "I'll pester him once he's off stage. Though I have to wonder whether or not it's a good sign when my prospective employer is a bard playing at a place called 'Bard's End.' Seems a little ominous, dontcha think?" she asks with slight tilt of her head. "What can you tell me 'bout Bardy Boy up there?"

[Benson]

The Umbra Circus/Carnival Grounds


"Ooooooh...I seee.....I think," The little girl nodded her head vigorously as if though she really understood. "Sooo...are you part of the circus?"
---

Bard's End

Th bartender tilted his head and squinted an eye in a manner that indicated he didn't quite agree with her thoughts on the name of the tavern, but eh. He just casually shrugged at the assessment.

"Well as for bardy boy, he's not bad of a musician, could work on the substance of his lyrics. Been here for the past four days with his half orc friend over there, just enough time to form a gaggle of fangirls." There was a small playful eye roll from him.

[Hawkflight]

Eliza shook her head, her smile turning wistful for a second.

"No, I'm not," she said. "I'm ... simply looking for someone."

[Benson]

"Oh who ya looking for?" The little Korvosian girl asked as she casually petted Elizabeth's furry arm.


"For me of course," Came a a smooth male voice. Turning around, a male tiefling stood there dressed in an flashy get up. He wore a silk maroon red vest with lighter red swirls woven in, black slacks and some dandy looking brown leather boots. He wore a red silky duster coat that tapered to his waist before slightly flaring out. Atop his medium length wavy black hair was a black akubra hat with a silver band. At his hip in a holster dangled a custom made pepperbox.

"Hahaha...I jest...I jest....Just looking for an entry to get into this conversation hahah...heh," He glanced down at the little girl and stroked his trimmed goatee.

"Actually, I couldn't help but notice your weapons, Miss," He said looking at Elizabeth. "Its nice to come across a fellow gunslinger in these parts."

"Oh where are my manners, my name is Voren 'Fast Hands', gunslinger showman of the Umbra Carnival." He bowed with a flourish.

[Hawkflight]

"Oh who ya looking for?" The little Korvosian girl asked as she casually petted Elizabeth's furry arm.

"For me of course," Came a a smooth male voice. Turning around, a male tiefling stood there dressed in an flashy get up. He wore a silk maroon red vest with lighter red swirls woven in, black slacks and some dandy looking brown leather boots. He wore a red silky duster coat that tapered to his waist before slightly flaring out. Atop his medium length wavy black hair was a black akubra hat with a silver band. At his hip in a holster dangled a custom made revolver.

"Hahaha...I jest...I jest....Just looking for an entry to get into this conversation hahah...heh," He glanced down at the little girl and stroked his trimmed goatee.

"Actually, I couldn't help but notice your weapons, Miss," He said looking at Elizabeth. "Its nice to come across a fellow gunslinger in these parts."

"Oh where are my manners, my name is Voren 'Fast Hands', gunslinger showman of the Umbra Carnival." He bowed with a flourish.

Eliza didn't really want to answer the young girl's question, and fortunately was spared having to by the arrival of the tiefling. She smiled and ruffled the little girl's hair.

"Move along now, I'm sure your mommy is looking for you," she said, before standing up to face the tiefling.

"'Fast Hands', huh? I'll be the judge of that," she remarked.

[Benson]

The little girl frowned a little but nodded, she really ought to go back to her mommy before her mommy scolded her, so she scampered off.

"Hahaha....we have judges for that now?" He chuckled and lazily grinned. "Mmm, well, maybe I can show you, in private." He smirked and then waved his hands in front of him defensively. "I jest, I jest, don't punch me, I like my face as is."

"But in all seriousness, its a pleasure to meet a fellow gunslinger, and a lady catfolk at that. How rare." He stroked his chin in amusement. "What make is your gun?"

[Hawkflight]

The little girl frowned a little but nodded, she really ought to go back to her mommy before her mommy scolded her, so she scampered off.

"Hahaha....we have judges for that now?" He chuckled and lazily grinned. "Mmm, well, maybe I can show you, in private." He smirked and then waved his hands in front of him defensively. "I jest, I jest, don't punch me, I like my face as is."

"But in all seriousness, its a pleasure to meet a fellow gunslinger, and a lady catfolk at that. How rare." He stroked his chin in amusement. "What make is your gun?"

"Sure, my claws could use some sharpening," Beth said wryly. Then she nodded as she noticed the tiefling's gun.

"My guns?" She pulled out her twin guns, spun them around once, and re-holstered them. "A double-barreled pistol, and a dragon pistol. Made them both myself, I call them Cease and Desist. But, if we're speaking of rare, speak of your own gun?" she added pointedly.

[Benson]

"Oooh, impressive," He replied and nodded approvingly of her weapons. He then unholstered his gun and held it in his hands. "Well I wasn't talking about rarity, but the make, which you answered. But, my gun was my old mentor's gun that he gave to me before he passed away. He made it himself, fought pirates as an Andoran Freedom Fighter." He flashed a small smile and tilted his hat a little.

[Lycan 01]

The incognito Changeling observes the bard for a moment, before her gaze drifts to the stern half-orc. She turns back to the bartender, and gives a tilt of her head to gesture at the half-orc. "So what's their story?" she quietly asks.

[Benson]

"I don't really know, I'm just the bartender. All I know is that I don't think I've ever heard her talk, she's kinda creepy quiet. I think she's his bodyguard or something. I dunno." The bartender replied as they whipped out a damp clothe and wiped at the counters.

[Mystic Muse]

"Milady Gabrielle, what brings you here upon this ominous hour?" She asks the Aasimar, while looking for a place for them to sit down.

"OH! Umm...you see, I'm not a goddess. I'm just a very strange-looking Aasimar." Gabrielle tells Shokah. "I cam here because it sounded exciting mostly." She says to Shokah.

[Trobby]

"...Oh, I see..." It's possible that this has embarrassed Shokah, or even shocked her a bit. But it is hard to tell from behind the dregs of black hair, and her unchanging expression. Though it is possible she's a little disappointed too.

"I am looking for someone in particular, but they are currently occupied with singing." She explains, glancing up to the stage where her prospective employer is currently entertaining the tavern.

[Lycan 01]

Scurry scurry scurry!

A red-haired half-elf suddenly pops up to next to Shokah. "Hiya!" she chimes, eyes sparkling with excitement and enthusiasm. "I'm waiting for the bard guy too! Name's Luci, what's yours?"

Luci is probably way too damn chipper for Shokah to deal with right now...

[Trobby]

This is one hundred percent true.

"It would be most appreciated if I could have a little bit more space. Perhaps an inch or two, if you please."

One hundred and ten percent true.

"So, you too seek to travel to the Kodar mountains? What business have you in those parts?"

[Lycan 01]

Luci moves back exactly an inch and a half.

"Adventure!" she answers with lots of excited enthusiasm. Like, sweet mercy, you would not believe how chipper this Changeling is.

"I need money, and I like going on little quests and expeditions and stuff. Enjoying new experiences, learning new stories, finding old things, creating new tales!" There's some waving of hands mixed in there. "Action! Mystery! Discovery!" More vehement gesticulation. "And maybe I'll even make some new friends, too! What about you, huh huh huh? Why are you going?"

[Trobby]

With a grave and stern voice, as serious and heavy as the weight of the world, Shokah replies thusly.

"It's a secret to everybody."

...You have to remember that this is a campaign set in an alternate universe in an ancient world, where no one has ever heard of Shigeru Miyamoto.

"But if you are to travel with me, and all that you seek is...'excitement'...then we shall have no quarrels in working together."

[Hawkflight]

"Oooh, impressive," He replied and nodded approvingly of her weapons. He then unholstered his gun and held it in his hands. "Well I wasn't talking about rarity, but the make, which you answered."

"No, I mean, you said I was rare, and ... oh, nevermind."


"But, my gun was my old mentor's gun that he gave to me before he passed away. He made it himself, fought pirates as an Andoran Freedom Fighter." He flashed a small smile and tilted his hat a little.

"Oh yes, I've actually met them before," said Eliza. "Really look up to them, in a way. You see, my tribe was captured by slavers too. They also make one hell of a Souston clam chowder."

[Mystic Muse]

"...Oh, I see..." It's possible that this has embarrassed Shokah, or even shocked her a bit. But it is hard to tell from behind the dregs of black hair, and her unchanging expression. Though it is possible she's a little disappointed too.

"I am looking for someone in particular, but they are currently occupied with singing." She explains, glancing up to the stage where her prospective employer is currently entertaining the tavern.

"Singing is a lovely pasttime. I personally prefer playing the trumpet, but will sing if the need arises."


Scurry scurry scurry!

A red-haired half-elf suddenly pops up to next to Shokah. "Hiya!" she chimes, eyes sparkling with excitement and enthusiasm. "I'm waiting for the bard guy too! Name's Luci, what's yours?"

Luci is probably way too damn chipper for Shokah to deal with right now...


"My name is Gabrielle. Pleased to meet you, Luci." she says with a smile. She knows Gabrielle wasn't addressing her, but hey, might as well get acquainted with the pretty half-elf anyway.


Luci moves back exactly an inch and a half.

"Adventure!" she answers with lots of excited enthusiasm. Like, sweet mercy, you would not believe how chipper this Changeling is.

"I need money, and I like going on little quests and expeditions and stuff. Enjoying new experiences, learning new stories, finding old things, creating new tales!" There's some waving of hands mixed in there. "Action! Mystery! Discovery!" More vehement gesticulation. "And maybe I'll even make some new friends, too! What about you, huh huh huh? Why are you going?"

"That all sounds fun. I'm going because I heard there might be artifacts, and those are the kinds of thing I would prefer to keep out of evil hands. The adventure aspect was also something that appealed to me." she says with a smile. She liked this changeling.

[Benson]

Umbra Carnival Grounds

"Wow, that sounds like an interesting story there," Voren replied with a lazy smile.

[Lycan 01]

Luci grins at Shokah, before turning her attention to Gabriella. "Hiya!" she exclaims in her typical overly-excited fashion. "Gabriella, huh? That's a neat name." Her eyes travel up and down Gabriella, curiously examining her. "Huh. You've got the whole 'majestic' vibe going on, and you're talking about about keeping stuff out of evil's hands and whatnot." The perky Changeling grins widely. "Are you a Paladin or something?"

[Hawkflight]

Umbra Carnival Grounds

"Wow, that sounds like an interesting story there," Voren replied with a lazy smile.

"Oh, you have no idea," the cat said with a smirk. When you're travelling with a time warden, every day is interesting. You just skip the boring ones, she thought.

"Hey, I was heading into town to get a drink, you wanna join me?"

[Benson]

Umbra Carnival Grounds

"Mmmm......I can spare an hour before I have to be back in time for my show. Ringmaster Almara would probably have my tail for my hooky here," He grinned and tipped his hat over his forehead. He glanced to the side and sported a mischievous grin.

"Come on let's go then hehehe.."

Just when they're about to sneak off, a young boy's voice called out from behind them.

"Voren..! Where do you think you're going? Its your turn to clean out the animal's cages." Looking behind them the two would see a young Varisian teen dressed in egg white cotton harem style pants, a colorful red vest with no shirt, and a yellow sash. He's currently glowering at Voren with a pouty huff.

Voren grimaced.

[Hawkflight]

Eliza winced and smiled sheepishly at Voren. "Heh, sorry," she said. "I guess I'll see you later then. I ain't leaving without challenging you to a shoot-off," she added with a smirk.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy clapped her hands together, pleased as punch with the whole situation. After all, a thorough search might've turned up the sack full of sling bullets in her pack, and some guards often decided to cut out the middle Halfling and confiscate the lot of them. "Ah, bless you, kind sir!" She reached out with her free hand and grasped his finger, giving it a thorough handshaking as if that were the guard's intent all along. "I'll keep my stick on her best behavior, you can count on that." And just like that, she'd try to hobble on past the checkpoint, whistling a merry little tune to herself.

[Mystic Muse]

Luci grins at Shokah, before turning her attention to Gabriella. "Hiya!" she exclaims in her typical overly-excited fashion. "Gabriella, huh? That's a neat name." Her eyes travel up and down Gabriella, curiously examining her. "Huh. You've got the whole 'majestic' vibe going on, and you're talking about about keeping stuff out of evil's hands and whatnot." The perky Changeling grins widely. "Are you a Paladin or something?"

"Indeed I am!" Gabrielle states proudly. She gives a nice grin back. "I'm a servant of Iomedae." She explains, which is probably fairly obvious, given Iomedae's holy symbol all over her armor and tabard.

[Benson]

Umbra Carnival Grounds

The teenage youth looked between Voren and Elizabeth, his hands at his hips. He raised a brow. "I thought you were sweet on Hajeck the fortune teller."

Voren sputtered and waved his hands in front of him. "I-I was....but...she wasn't very reciprocating. She threw a boot at me last time I tried to flirt with her..." The tiefling sweat dropped with a grimace as he tugged at his collar. "Errrr...."

He then looked at Elizabeth at with an apologetic smile. "M-maybe you could come by my show later? Afterwards I can set up a range for us? I..I really would like to see your skills." He put on his best smile of a toothy fanged variety.
---

Melindy in the City

Melindy would otherwise receive no trouble from any other guards. She herself would be hit with the same sights and smells and sounds of the city in its festive mood.

She would find herself approached by a young varisian boy of twelve in tattered peasant clothing and dirt on his person. Behind him he pulled a rickety looking rickshaw.

"Save ya the walking trouble ma'am?" He said to her in a hopeful drawl tone. "One way ride for a *pinch?" He flashed a two front teeth missing smile. "Fastest rickshaw service in all of Korvosa." He bowed with a flourish.


*term used here in this city to refer to a copper coin

[Hawkflight]

Eliza smirked and unholstered her gun, spinning it around her finger. Catching it by the barrel, she tapped Voren's wise-brimmed hat down over his face.

"I'll see ya then," she said, turned to leave. "Oh! My name's Elizabeth. Elizabeth Starr."

[Trobby]

Shokah's expression seems to lighten a bit as the two speak to each other. The mention of Gabrielle's deity seems to catch Shokah's attention.

"Iomedae, you say? I don't beleive I have heard of her. What is her legend?"

[Benson]

Umbra Carnival Grounds

"A pleasure to have met ya Miss Starr," He flirtatiously said as he readjusted his hat, grin still present. "Cya then."

[Hawkflight]

Eliza waved as she made her way into the city.

---

Eliza made her way into the tavern, pausing briefly to look around before finding a seat. Somewhere between here and the carnival, she'd found a stalk of wheat to chew, for dramatic effect and all that.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy's little whistled tune felt hardly out of place here. There was enough music and merriment for five cities here, and she'd only just walked in the door. That was the ol' Luck for you; get a job, and it just so happens to be in a city with a festival in full swing.

And as it just so happened, a street urchin came by to save her the trouble of a walk. "Fastest in all of Korvosa? If that's the case, I'd say that's worth a few pinches, eh?" She gave the boy a knowing wink and let herself be led to his rickshaw. Most folks didn't realize it, but the quickest way to finding out the lay of the land was to get a driver talking. Befriend him, by coin or by compliment, and there'd be no end to what you could find out. Call it old habits, but Melindy still enjoyed keeping her ears out for the useful tidbits of information.

[Benson]

"Great, satisfaction guaranteed," The street urchin grinned enthusiastically. "So where am I taking you ma'am?"

[TheAmishPirate]

"Great, satisfaction guaranteed," The street urchin grinned enthusiastically. "So where am I taking you ma'am?"

"Bard's End, South Shore District," she replied, settling into the rickshaw where she'd presumably been led. "Quite the festival you have here. Founding Day, isn't it?"

[Lycan 01]

Luci looks back and forth between Shokah and Gabriella. "Oooo, story time? Awesome!"

[Benson]

"Bard's End, South Shore District," she replied, settling into the rickshaw where she'd presumably been led. "Quite the festival you have here. Founding Day, isn't it?"


"Indeed it is ma'am," Said the twelve year as he positioned himself in front of the rickshaw and grabbed onto the wooden handles wearing a pair of patched up leather gloves. He then began to pull the rickshaw and get it into a steady forward motion, building up momentum. "Did ya come for the festivities?"

[TheAmishPirate]

"I am now!" She chuckled to herself, watching the city start to speed by her. "It'd be poor manners to drop by and not even get a glimpse of the festivities. And even I've heard of Founder's Day; should be a grand old time." Now then, time to see if there was anything worth knowing. "Lucky you; getting to have a big party every year. Is it always this lively, or is this time a special one?"

[I can make a Diplomacy/Gather Information check if necessary]

[Benson]

"Well I dunno much....but the King, Eodred II died a few days ago...there was some fuss in the streets and papers about even having a festival...like if it would be wrong to have a day of merriment in a week of mourning, or that's what mama told me." He said catching his breath as they came to an intersection as he waited for wagons and pedestrians to cross.

Around them they could see the fairly high rising buildings with rooftops that were a faux ward of their own, with their criss-crossing pathaways high above known as the Shingles. Small magical imps could be seen scurrying around as well as small tiny drakes trying to eat them. It was normal and both were considered pests.

"But the Queen wanted to have the festivities go down anyway, I dun't really know much other than that, but it was kinda weird for the Queen since everyone knows how she doesn't even like this city." He shrugged and then went on his way moving as fast as his little feet could move. There was lots of ducking and dodging and near collisions with all manner of things.

"OOoh..also...there's also the circus! You probably saw it..I dunno...but it was big and colorful and owned by Varisians, our people as mama says. We're going go later to check it out....I really hope to see the sphinx...that would be really cool." The boy came to a halt as before one knew, they were in the South Shore district.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy listened well as the boy recounted the current goings-ons. That bit about the king sounded promising; she probably would've heard of that anyhow, had it not been for all the travel. Gold to grub that Queen had an angle with this whole festival, some game she was playing. For what, though? When you got that high, there wasn't much else you could want. Leverage? Security? Or was it just straight apathy?

For somebody who's 'retired', you're awfully nosy.

It's not work, it's fun. That's entirely different.

She idly glanced up at the rooftops, passively taking in the information in the boy's droning voice while her internal debate continued. Valuable skill for a Halfling, paying attention to seven different things at once. When blending into the background, you had to always seem like you weren't paying attention to anything, while paying attention to everything at once. Being short was a lot trickier than most folks figured.

Oh? So blatantly bribing a street urchin for info is 'just for fun'?

Of course; do you see me plotting anything with it? If I was on the job, I'd be-

SILENCE.

A terrible voice tore through her head and shook her to the bones. All at once, the city, rickshaw, the boy, everything except the rooftops and their bothersome inhabitants melted away. Her eyes rolled back, the whites glowing faintly of starlight.

KNOW

Knowledge flooded her mind. Locales beyond her wildest imagination, so real and intimate it was as if she'd been there yesterday. Mysteries beyond her ken, suddenly understood in perfect clarity. Creatures of impossible geometries, moving and shifting through the void. A divine flash of unbelievable inspiration, only the source could hardly be called holy.

And then Melindy slumped back in her seat, suddenly back in the city. Her head pounded, information already leaking out. She scrambled to focus, trying to gather up what she could before it vanished completely into her subconscious.

[Knowledge Arcana check on the Shingles, the imps, the drakes, that general situation. What might cause such a setup, why are they still there, that sort of thing.]

[Benson]

At some point in the past, Melindy must have come across a tome titled "An Idiot's Guide to The Shingles" and thoroughly read it.

The Shingles came into being only a few decades ago, when urban renewal projects on Endrin Isle pushed Old Korvosa’s poorest people into Bridgefront. As people flooded into the area, they quickly ran out of room. Taking a cue from Kaer Maga, they built upward, with lean-tos and shacks creating impromptu third stories on many of the ward’s buildings. These temporary third stories gave way to more permanent additions, which in turn received tents and shacks atop them. Over time, this progression of haphazard permanency gave rise to a ramshackle wall of residences reaching as high as five floors in some places.

These cramped and irregular roof lines gave homes to some of the city’s poorest and most desperate people. The children of these impoverished people grew up on the roofs of Bridgefront and thought little of traversing the ward by moving above it. Over time, they learned that other sections of the city with equally dense roof lines could also provide hidden and convenient paths. At first, these young daredevils only used the roofs as highways and called running along the rooftops “shingle dashing.” As the practice became more common and different underworld elements saw potential in its use, permanent and semi-permanent way-points, structures, and safehouses appeared on roofs throughout the most crowded parts of the city.

Humans don’t live alone on the roofs of their fair city. Instead, an assortment of nasty surprises await unwary fools traversing the Shingles. Everything from imps, small drakes and stirges to shingle spiders (Medium monstrous spiders) and chokers hunt above the city, ready at any moment to snatch inattentive prey.


As for the imps and drakes, whelp, Korvosa is a Cheliax charted city, much like its motherland, Korvosa's magic wielders lean more towards summoning and binding. It is a common practice in the Academae, Korvosa's most popular wizarding school, to call upon devils and bind them to the caster's will. Escaped imps soon became as common as rats as somehow their population just grew. Small drakes were employed to catch and eat the imps, but soon the magical drake population began to grow as well. Neither are any real threat but they are at the moment treated as a bunch of pests often fighting each other, considering eachother the enemy.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy spent the remainder of her little ride nursing a throbbing headache. Whatever that was - and she didn't fancy thinking too hard on that front - it wasn't interested in playing nice with her brainbox. Good with info though, when it felt like letting her remember half the stuff it jammed into her skull. She'd never even heard of the Shingles before today, much less that they were even called the Shingles. Now she felt ready to give a full-course lecture on the topic.

Now if only the voices in my head were so forthcoming with secret ale recipes...

By the time the pounding left her head, the boy was coming to a halt outside what had to be the gaudiest inn in the whole city. Gaudy was good though; gaudy meant gold. Quite literally, in this case. "Thank you for the ride; it certainly lived up to its reputation." With a wink and a nod, she flipped the boy a silver for his trouble. "You go have fun at the circus now, you hear?"

[Benson]

Outside the Bard's End


His eyes lit up at the sight of the silver coin, that was like...ten rickshaw rides. "I...thank you...I don't have any change for a Silver Shield...." The street urchin said really hoping it wasn't a fluke and that the halfling really did mean to give a silver coin.
-

Inside the Bard's End


At some point the young performer on stage ended his little song and fiddle performance as he bowed before his lady admirers with a theatrical flourish. "Oh your cheers are much too much for one like me, but thank you." He flashed a warm smile as he stepped down on the stage as the half orc visibly rolled her eyes as she saw one of the fangirls actually swooned.

The small group made their way to one of the tables as they crowded him all fighting to sit next to him. There was more eye rolling from the half orc as she moved in to stand behind him at bodyguard length.

"So Athy~ Are you going to perform tomorrow night? I reaaaally think you're good enough for the Kendall," One young shallow frilly dressed lady said trying to lay her head on his shoulder.

"You think so?.....Nawww......I don't think.....well maybe....awww shucks...thanks...anyways, well I'm not sure, since I'm hoping to receive new guests tonight." The young bard said with a flush to his cheeks as he twiddled his thumbs on the table.

"Oh right, your expedition thingy...do you really have to go on and do that?" Another one asked.

The bard kinda just looked at her all serious like and what not. "Well yes, I do. For my honor and making a historic landmark." And other reasons.

"Awww......."

More eye rolling from the female half orc, at this rate her eyes were just going to fall out of their sockets. Eventually her gaze fell upon the small group of oddlings that are four of the PCs.

[TheAmishPirate]

"Did I ask for change?" she responded with a smirk. To be fair, she would've rather taken off before the lad had a chance to question it, but between her leg and her pack she wasn't going anywhere fast.

[Benson]

The street urchin's eyes lit up a second time as big smile found itself on his face. "Wowee...thank you ma'am." He looked at the halfling just a foot shorter than him and nodded his head vigorously. "May the light of Sarenrae shine on you ma'am."

[Lycan 01]

Luci grins at the half-orc, and waves her hand in a friendly, over-enthusiastic fashion.

[Trobby]

Shokah saw that the performance was over. And to her, that meant that business was now at hand.

She looks up through the dark strands of hair, and they fall back behind her. Parting to the sides, one could see an almost beautiful shape to her visage, hidden behind the sunken tiredness and world-weary, heavily-traveled expression on her face.

She speaks, with a surprisingly soft, melodic voice that is a stark contrast to the cold exterior.

"I have heard you seek to explore the Kodar mountains."

She looks directly into the man's eyes, as if staring straight through him and into his soul. Not once does her expression change, but for a moment, he can sense that she is judging his character.

Speaking directly to him, she says "I will be going with you. I will fight by your side. I will see to it that your expedition is successful."

She says this all, as if the decision has already been made, and that he is simply in the way if he chooses to decline her 'offer'.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy nodded back. "Take care of yourself, kid."

...yeah, she wasn't exactly the most religious Halfling around.

[Mystic Muse]

Seeing that the Conversation about Iomedae is over for the moment, Gabrielle just waves to the bard politely and waits for his reaction to everybody else before she butts in.

[Hawkflight]

Looking around the tavern, Ms. Starr's eyes lit on Athrun. Pocketing her lucky gold coin, she made her way over to him.

"Hey, 'scuse me. You're Lord Athrun, right? The one leading the expedition?" she inquired.

[Benson]

The half orc stared at Luci but did not wave, she got a quirked brow instead.

When Shokah approached the young bard with her words, he blankly stared at the woman. He abruptly stood up as a large smile formed on his face as he grabbed Shokah's right hand into his own gloves and stared back into her eyes. (assuming she's like on the otherside of the table he's at or something.) "Wow....! Someone answered the flyer.....!" His eyes lit up as he shook her hand vigorously. "With words like those how can I deny you ma'am?" It was a rhetorical question. While this was happening, some of the girls were getting annoyed, but who cares about them.

"What name do you go by?" He asked, yet to let go of her hand, he was still shaking it.

And then the catfolk appeared.

"Oh wow.....!....A....cat lady person...Why yes, yes I am the one leading the expedition," He said still shaking Shokah's hand. His tone was quite vibrant and enthusiastic.
---


The kid smiled and nodded and was soon on his way. With a week's worth of wages in his hand, he was ready to just go home and enjoy the festival with his family.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy watched the boy go, then turned to the front double doors with a great, contented sigh.

I just gave that boy a silver instead of a few coppers.

Her grip tightened on her staff as the thought finally processed in her head. Oddly enough, she did not frown at the loss of coin. No, she just kept smiling on in disbelief of what her hands had done. "...I just paid a silver for a rickshaw ride." Perhaps if she said it out loud, it'd make what just happened any more believable.

Nope. No it did not.

Without dropping her smile for an instant, she half-strode, half-hobbled through the front door. "I'm going to need a pint. A normal-sized, honest-to-goodness pint."

[Lycan 01]

Skitter skitter skitter.

The petite half-elf peeks around from behind Shokah's right side, and grins at at the adventurer-seeking bard. "Hiya! Name's Luci! I'm taggin' along too!" she cheerfully states with an enthusiastic grin. "I'm not too good at the whole 'stabby stabby' thing, but I'm really clever and witty and funny and can sneak around or pick a lock like nobody's business! Oh, and I'm pretty. That's gotta count for something, riiiiiight?" she asks with a coy smirk, trying to get on the boss' good side as quickly and effectively as possible.


Diplomacy to make a good first impression on the boss man: [roll0]

[Hawkflight]

And then the catfolk appeared.

"Oh wow.....!....A....cat lady person...Why yes, yes I am the one leading the expedition," He said still shaking Shokah's hand. His tone was quite vibrant and enthusiastic.

"Heh, I never get tired of that," Beth smirked. "I'm Elizabeth Starr. I was hoping to join the expedition."

[Trobby]

"You may call me Shokah of the Shoanti, of the Shundar-Quar, She Who Walks Two Worlds." She says as if expecting him to say that all every single time he wants to address her.

Since it is clear that he has not objected to her path, she stands aside so that the other travelers can introduce them to Lord Athrun.

She looks up at the bodyguard, and speaks to her in perfect Orkish tongue.

{"You are one of the women Lord Athrun keeps as a wife, yes? Tell me, is he of good character?"}

...and the two of them are likely very glad she chose to speak in the bodyguard's native tongue.

[Benson]

The ponytail wearing bartender raised a brow at the halfling coming in asking for a pint. So he playfully smirked and brought out an empty pint. "I don't think I can sell you the pint itself, but if you'd like I can sell you a drink to go with it." He chuckled and waved his left hand in a gesture that he was joking around. "Anyways Miss, what can I get you? We got a fine selection, afterall, we don't have this gaudy atmosphere to just sell mead."
--


Athrun stared blankly at the half elf who boldly approached him in the manner she did. It caused him to stop shaking Shokah's hand as a flushed smile crept onto his face as his cheeks turned slightly rosy.

"Lock picking eh?" He questioned to quickly and latched onto that of all the things she said. "Oooh...well then, no dungeon treasure chest stands a chance eh? Hahah..-" He laughed and kept eye contact with Luci despite his rosy flushed cheeks.

And then the catfolk spoke again to him. He broke eye contact with Luci and brought his gaze onto the catfolk. "I would be honor to have someone so exotic join...! So many questions...well for all of you, before we can make this final, but still." He mouth could not catch up with his brain at the moment.

And then Shokah again! "A pleasure to meet you Miss Shokah of the Shoanti, of the Shundar-Quar, She Who Walks Two Worlds." He bowed and was proud he got her name right the first time around.

"Come..sit sit you three...let us discuss this..over drinks? Does anyone here care for drinks?" He asked the three who approached him, Luci, Elizabeth and Shokah.

The half orc glanced at Shokah as the warrior woman would find herself met with silence. She just stares awkwardly at Shokah with a frozen expression of quirked brows and a subtle this 'o_0'.

Not understanding what Shokah just said, Athrun still intervened and wore a sympathetic look. "I'm afraid she won't be able to reply to you....she uh...a long, long time ago her tongue was cut out. She can't really talk."

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy was about to open her mouth to ask for some of the hard stuff, when her sharp ears caught a few key words from the next table over:

Expedition. Join. Treasure. Final. And most importantly: Free drinks.

With the tip of her staff, she nudged the pint back over to the barkeep. "Actually, hold onto that for me, will you? I get the feeling somebody will be filling that for me momentarily."

Adjusting her travelling clothes -- What would she have given for a chance to change into her proper things first! -- she hobbled over to the bard's table, flitting through the bigger folk with practiced ease. "Pardon the interruption," she chimed in, voice rising to a smooth, professional tone that belied her stature. "But do I have the honor of addressing Lord Athrun, leader of the expedition into the Kodar mountains?"

[Lycan 01]

"Treasure chests? Pfft. I can unlock way more than just that," Luci says with a confident grin. "Doors, gates, windows, padlocks, traps, hearts," she observes, the grin turning a bit flirty on that last bit.

She leans back a bit to let the young Lord talk to the other adventurers without her being in the way. At the mention of drinks, though, she smiles sheepishly. "I, uh, think I'll pass on the booze. Sensitive elfy system and whatnot, y'know?"

[Hawkflight]

And then the catfolk spoke again to him. He broke eye contact with Luci and brought his gaze onto the catfolk. "I would be honor to have someone so exotic join...! So many questions...well for all of you, before we can make this final, but still." He mouth could not catch up with his brain at the moment.

Elizabeth nodded, pushing up the brim of her wide-brimmed hat with a pistol. One could see two slits cut for her ears to poke through.

"Well, if you need to know what I can do, I'm a fantastic shot," she said. "I can also make my own ammo, including some ... special ammo of my own, and I can disable traps. I also have a few tricks up my sleeve, but that's a secret for now," she added with a wink.


"Come..sit sit you three...let us discuss this..over drinks? Does anyone here care for drinks?" He asked the three who approached him, Luci, Elizabeth and Shokah.

"Oh, sure! You have any fire whisky?" Eliza asked.


Not understanding what Shokah just said, Athrun still intervened and wore a sympathetic look. "I'm afraid she won't be able to reply to you....she uh...a long, long time ago her tongue was cut out. She can't really talk."

"Ouch! I'm sorry to hear that," she said sympathetically.

[Trobby]

"Ah, my apologies, Lord Athrun. I did not mean to offend your wife."

She said in plain common, so anyone at the table could hear it.

[Mystic Muse]

"Ah, my apologies, Lord Athrun. I did not mean to offend your wife."

She said in plain common, so anyone at the table could hear it.

Gabrielle just gave Shokah a "Wut" look and walked over to Lord Athrun to introduce herself. "Hello. My name is Gabrielle, and I would also like to be going on this expedition, if you wouldn't mind." She says in a kind, cheerful voice with a nice smile.

[Benson]

Melindy

"Oh my...yes...ma'am, I would be Lord Athrun, leader of the expedition into the Kodar mountains," He flashed a weary friendly smile.

Luci

There was a slight frown at the mention of the more criminal like activities. "Eh...hopefully you won't have to break into someone's home...." He felt awkward all of sudden with the half elf and now forced the smile on his face.

E. Starr

Thankfully the catfolk distracted him. "We'll have to talk about your abilities later-wards, sounds awfully ...cool."

Shokah

Doubly thankfully the shoanti girl distracted him further. He couldn't help but laugh after briefly blankly staring. "No no no...she is not my wife, she is my loyal and wonderful bodyguard and friend." He warmly smiled as he put a hand on the taller half orc's shoulder.

Gabrielle


"Of course I wouldn't mind!---" He looked the paladin over and made an 'ooooh' expression. An aasimar no doubt! he believed.

[Lycan 01]

Luci recoils back, and makes a face of mock indignance. "Good sir, I was referring too doors and gates amongst ruins, tombs, and dungeons. I made no mention or indication of Breaking and Entering, Trespassing, Prowling, Unlawful Entry, or other urban misdemeanors and felonies."

She flashes an innocently playful smile. "Oh, and I can dance. Would a thief or bandit bother with such things?"

A good one would. But that's totally beside the point.

[Trobby]

Shokah

Doubly thankfully the shoanti girl distracted him further. He couldn't help but laugh after briefly blankly staring. "No no no...she is not my wife, she is my loyal and wonderful bodyguard and friend." He warmly smiled as he put a hand on the taller half orc's shoulder.


"Ah, I did not understand. I apologize to you and your other wives, Lord Athrun."

Which is likely to make the ladies gathered around him feel VERY awkward as she looks at them.

It should be noted Shokah's father only had one wife, and no one in her tribe ever took more than one wife. So she is basing her belief that Lord Athrun practices polygamy entirely on the multitude of young women surrounding him.

Not that anyone else would know that.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy

"Oh my...yes...ma'am, I would be Lord Athrun, leader of the expedition into the Kodar mountains," He flashed a weary friendly smile.

Melindy gave an elegant curtsy, or at least the best she could manage while keeping hold of her walking stick. First impressions tended to be ruined when one fell on their face. "Melindy Milew, at your service if you'll have me." Seeing how there was quite a bit of conversation flying towards the young noble, she opted to pull up a chair and wait for him to start negotiations for the group.

[Benson]

"I dunno...though I think those last two are irrelevant...or something...there's a word for it...but I just can't think which one." He said innocently as he scratched his nose in thought.


And then Shokah happened again, bringing him out of that thought. "Oh..no no no...they aren't my wives...they're new friends I've made during my stay here." He said to the disappointment of the ladies into being friendzoned. "I am without wife, wives, significant other, lovers and what not. A bachelor is me."

He then listened to Melindy and bowed. "Alright, well....if you lovely ladies would leave us for a moment, we have matters to discuss, but please, have yourself a drink on my tab." He said to his lady guests as they departed, leaving the table, some reluctantly, some not too bothered and helped themselves to the bar.

"And now for you five..." He said referring to the PCs. "Please have a sit here and prepare your questions if you have any."

[Trobby]

"Ah..." Shokah ponders this for a few seconds, before coming, at last, to at least one reasonable conclusion.

"I apologize, then, for misunderstanding the number of wives that you have, Lord Athrun."

Well, at least she got ONE point out of that.

[Lycan 01]

Luci pulls a chair out from the table, spins it around on one leg, and then takes a seat with the back of the chair in front of her. Folding her arms atop the back of the chair, she rests her head on top of them and smiles. She's ready to get down to business.

[Hawkflight]

She's ready to get down to business.

To defeat the Huns.

Elizabeth climbed into a chair as well, curling up on it like, well, a cat. Her tail thumped against the seat of the chair, unable to get into a comfortable position because of these blasted chairs.

[TheAmishPirate]

"If drinks are in order, then I believe my first question would be in regards to their wine list." Melindy smirked as she skillfully scooted her too-large chair up to the table with some deft stick-pushing.

[Trobby]

Shokah took a wary look at one of the ornate chairs that the Tavern had for the patrons, before reluctantly setting herself down in one. She carefully slid her pack off her shoulders and onto the floor next to her, keeping half an eye on it while listening to Lord Athrun.

[Mystic Muse]

"I dunno...though I think those last two are irrelevant...or something...there's a word for it...but I just can't think which one." He said innocently as he scratched his nose in thought.


And then Shokah happened again, bringing him out of that thought. "Oh..no no no...they aren't my wives...they're new friends I've made during my stay here." He said to the disappointment of the ladies into being friendzoned. "I am without wife, wives, significant other, lovers and what not. A bachelor is me."

He then listened to Melindy and bowed. "Alright, well....if you lovely ladies would leave us for a moment, we have matters to discuss, but please, have yourself a drink on my tab." He said to his lady guests as they departed, leaving the table, some reluctantly, some not too bothered and helped themselves to the bar.

"And now for you five..." He said referring to the PCs. "Please have a sit here and prepare your questions if you have any."

"Any particular expectations we should have regarding the trip?" Gabrielle asks, because Becca wants to participate a bit. "Monsters we could expect to run into, treasure we can expect to keep, glory to be found, ETC.?" she asks with an inquisitive look.

[Hawkflight]

"Oh yes, what kind of funding can we expect for this expedition?" asked Elizabeth. "Food, lodging, supplies, ammunition, etcetera?"

[Benson]

Bard's End Tavern


Athrun opened his mouth to correct Shokah again in regards to his nonexistent wives but then shook his head, she'd catch on eventually, he hoped.

As for the chairs, they were made of high quality material, the chairs alone were worth a pretty Gold Sail and the tavern owner probably wouldn't appreciate a bar fight and using the chairs as weapons. Anyways, yea sure, they were on solid back since there was no previous reason to really account for tailed races to sit in them. For everyone else, they were pretty comfortable.

Anyways, the young noble then procured an actual small list and handed it to Melindy. "There you go ma'am." The list held the names of a few wines, followed by meads, brandies, beers, and even cider of soft and hard varieties. Many of them local brews, while some of the more expensive spirits hailing from exotic and foreign locales, like Qadira's famous Tapur wine, made from the finest of pomegranates and peaches.

Anyways, and then the young noble addressed the questions asked.

"Well the poster...want ad..what have you made mention of food and transportation to be provided. I expect camping in the woods, a lot of it, but when we reach towns and cities along the way, I will pay for the rooms. You're expected to bring a lot of your own supplies, because real adventurers who are serious about this would have had their own gear getting into this." He said gently rapping his finger tables against the polished table.

"But yes, right now I have a week's worth of fresh food in order in which along the way I'll be replenishing as we pass through towns marked along the way. I do have some extra blankets...oh and cooking gear...did you know they actually made collapsible pots?" There was a childlike like excitement in his tone around that last part.

"As for expectations...I would rather not hope to run into monsters.....I don't know what we'll face on the journey but....as we reach the mountains....there's always the chance of ice/snow based fiends.....and the cold of course...expect really cold weather. I do have an order of communal endure elements potions, which will be ready for pick up in the morning from the ward's local potion brewer. As for treasure.....whatever treasure you find along the way is yours...and I don't know how to answer that last one." The young lord said sheepishly.

[Lycan 01]

"Oh yay, good thing I already bought cold weather gear and other camping junk. Just gotta go buy a tent and some blankets, and I'm good to go," Luci says with her typical exuberant cheer.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy perused the wine list, before picking out a classic (and rather expensive) Magnimarian wine. Not her favorite, but enough like home to substitute.

As she waited for her wine, she steepled her little fingers and studied the naive, young noble to be her employer. "Just a few questions, Lord Athrun. First, what will be the terms of dividing treasure? First come, first served tends to give the short end of the stick to those with smaller legs." She tapped her walking stick on the table with a slight smirk at her own pun. "Second, what - if any - benefits or compensation might you be willing offer in the case of an injury or accident that leaves us unable to continue? I know, I know, unpleasant to even think about such a thing happening, but better to have it in writing now than a misunderstanding later. Third, and speaking of 'in writing', have you an official contract? Looking over the terms all at once would be helpful."

[Trobby]

"I have traveled far to reach this city, Lord Athrun. You can rest assured that I will be prepared for this long journey. Tell me, how long do you anticipate we shall be traveling? How frequent shall our 'stops' be?"

Shokah weighed her words carefully, to imply that frequent stops along the way would not be tolerated.

[Benson]

"Uhm...I guess with treasure you split it among the group?...and uh...for the other two...I didn't really think that far ahead...I uh...was kinda just excited about getting..a group together...uh well..uh...for the second thing...I would do the honorable thing and uh provide some sort of compensation for all one's help," The young noble found himself on the fretting nervous side, hit with questions he hadn't prepared himself for. The half orc behind him put a leather glove hand on his shoulder and gently squeezed it as he tried to calm himself a little and collect his thoughts.

"Uh...I ah..don't have a contract....readily available...but uh...if you lot want..I'll write some up tonight?" He rapped his fingers against the table.

As for Shokah, he looked at the warrior and wanly smiled. "Uhm..well if things go well...two or so months of travel? And I have no real answer for the uh second inquiry but uh...I ah would guess not that many? Its really all circumstantial." He pulled on his shirt to air himself. He found himself worrying that his lack of foresight was going to get him losing possible members before it even started.

[Trobby]

Shokah leaned in a bit as the nervous noble fidgeted.

"Are you quite certain you are ready for this quest, Lord Athrun? You seem to be growing pale."

Says the moon-skinned warrior.

[Benson]

"Yes..!" He said rather quickly and bluntly. "I mean...yes....I spent a very long time planning for this....but I guess I forgot about the small details or rather I didn't think about them...my apologies. But...I don't think that detracts from how much I want this done." His fingers rapped on the table as a small tight lipped smile formed on his face.

[Mystic Muse]

"Seems like we could do with a little more planning before heading out." Gabrielle suggests. "Maybe find out some more about the area if possible, since we don't quite know what we're walking into."

[Lycan 01]

Luci flashes her own lopsided grin. "Hey, I've already got pretty much everything I need. Just need a tent and bedroll and I'm set. I don't really need a contract; I know the deal. We go adventuring, I do my thing, we find treasure, we all get famous, and if things go south we run like hell. Easy as pie!" she exclaims cheerfully.

A pause.

A frown.

"Where can I get a decent pie around here?"

[TheAmishPirate]

Inexperienced, but determined. A dangerous combination. And the rest of the group seemed little better. They really needed a cool hand like her on this job. "Not to worry, Lord Athrun, it's just a personal little condition of mine that I like to have some measure of security in writing before taking on work. I'm more than capable of helping you draft a fair contract, if you should like."

[Trobby]

Lord Athrun's answer seems to satisfy Shokah. Surely, small details are not as important as large ones, yes?

...Though perhaps she should take care to provide her own securities on this journey...just in case Lord Athrun's...provisions...prove to be poorly-planned.

[Hawkflight]

A small frown flashed across Elizabeth's face as she observed the group. They seemed a lot more ... disorganized than the (literal) rat pack she'd traveled with before. That was to be expected though, since she doubted any of them had met each other before. Their leader, however, was of more concern. He seemed overenthusiastic and underprepared. Nothing she hadn't seen before, but this time her mentor wasn't there to take charge.

The frown vanished, replaced by a light smile as she leaned forward, perching on the edge of the chair. "So, looks like I'm gonna be travelling with y'all," she said. "Nice to meet ya, I'm Elizabeth Starr. Or Ms. Starr, if you're feeling fancy."

[Benson]

Gabrielle

"Oh..we'll be walking into freezing death, if my books about the Kodar Mountains are to be believed," He said with a little smile, as if he was in on his own private joke. That sort of stating the obvious humor. "I can specifically tell you about what my books about those mountains told me, bear in mind its of a historical/mythos scholarly point of view, not about surviving the place or so I thought that was what your question sought."

Luci

"I don't mean to barge in madam, but if you truly seek pie, I suggest visiting Bakers Dozen at the Gold Market over in the Midlands District. My sweetheart swears by the gods they have the best pie along with many other good sweets," The elven waiter said as he placed down Melindy's (moments previously assumed ordered) wine on the table.


Melindy

"I would like that ma'am," Athrun said to to the halfling woman. "Anything to make this run better." He still feeling dumb about his lack of thinking, continued to rap his fingers on the table with an awkward smile on his face.

Shokah

His eyes passed onto Shokah, still uncertain, there was something about her, about her eyes that made it look like to him everything he was doing was being silently judged. It struck him with the want to not look so foolish anymore in front of her.

Elizabeth Starr

Such a weird name for a catfolk, he really was expecting something more along the lines of something well...exotic and not so Common sounding. Or sequential picture book hero sounding. "A pleasure Miss Elizabeth Starr." He said opting for full name basis.

At this point, the gathered around a single table gaggle of our weirdos, were getting stares.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melinda took a sip of her wine, relishing the rich flavor. Literally. With enough experience, one could all but taste the gold that went into a good vintage. Similarly, with enough experience, one could all but smell the gold lying beneath the rot of disorganization and the filth of inexperience. All one had to do was point an Eager prospector in the right direction. "Good, good. I'm sure that as soon as we iron out these little details, my signature will be first upon the papers." She smiled as she expertly swirled her wine glass. "And surely these other fine folk will be right behind me, no?"

[Lycan 01]

Luci smiles lopsidedly at the elven waiter. "Oh, why thank you sir. Pray tell, what species and gender is the owner of the bakery? And are they single?"

[Trobby]

"Ah yes, a signed contract. My mentor informed me I must read them very carefully, and to be 'careful to read the fine print'. I am not sure what a 'fine print' is, but I am certain that whatever print Lord Athrun chooses, it will be fine."

[Benson]

Luci smiles lopsidedly at the elven waiter. "Oh, why thank you sir. Pray tell, what species and gender is the owner of the bakery? And are they single?"


"Uhm....humans, male and female..married couple?" The waiter looked at Luci full of awkwardness and glanced around ready to take the opportunity to skedaddle.



Melinda took a sip of her wine, relishing the rich flavor. Literally. With enough experience, one could all but taste the gold that went into a good vintage. Similarly, with enough experience, one could all but smell the gold lying beneath the rot of disorganization and the filth of inexperience. All one had to do was point an Eager prospector in the right direction. "Good, good. I'm sure that as soon as we iron out these little details, my signature will be first upon the papers." She smiled as she expertly swirled her wine glass. "And surely these other fine folk will be right behind me, no?"


"Ah yes, a signed contract. My mentor informed me I must read them very carefully, and to be 'careful to read the fine print'. I am not sure what a 'fine print' is, but I am certain that whatever print Lord Athrun chooses, it will be fine."

Athrun couldn't help but chuckle, as intimating as she was, he couldn't help but find amusement in a lot of things she said. "Well if anything, I do think I have good penmanship."


"Alright, well with you all here, this looks like a good sizable group...I have no idea if we'll have others wanting to be a part of this...but...I figure, we should at least properly introduce ourselves to each other, like our catfolk friend did."

[Trobby]

"Very well." said Shokah, standing up to go first.

"I am Shokah, Shoanti of the Shundar-Quar, She Who Walks Two Worlds. Through my might and my lore, I shall see to it that you find safe passage on our journey."

And, feeling that sufficient, she sits back down.

[Lycan 01]

Luci looks... rather annoyed. "Married? Ugh. There goes that plan," she huffs.

She turns back to the rest of the group, looking slightly disgruntled. "Oh, right. Introductions. Name's Luci," she says, before lowering her head to sulk and stare off to the side in annoyance. "Information and espionage specialist. And a Changeling," she flatly observes, not even bothering to explain what that is since she is still clearly perturbed about missing out on a chance to get cheap pie.

[Trobby]

"A....changeling, you say?" Shokah inquires. "What manner of job is that?"

[Mystic Muse]

"My name is Gabrielle. I'm an aasimar, and a Paladin." She informs the group of gathered people. She waits for Luci to respond to the question of what a changeling was. She was vaguely aware it was a species, but she wasn't aware of much beyond that.

[Lycan 01]

Luci looks up, turns to the side, and smiles pleasantly at Shokah.

A small flickers of green flame appear at the top of Luci's head. It quickly flashes and grows, spreading through her hair and down her face. As the flames race along, flesh and hair burn to ash and fall away, revealing an underlying layer of dark locks and dirt-stained skin. The ethereal flame races further down her body, her figure subtle changing in the flames wake to be more athletic and strongly built - her clothing easily shifts to fit the new form.

Though it will likely be permanently etched in the memories of many of those present, the entire transformation takes less than a second.

Shokah finds herself staring into the eyes of Shokah.

"It is not an occupation," the mock-Shokah gruffly replies, perfectly imitating the warrior woman's voice and tone. "It is my species."

The green flames flicker across her visage once more, and soon the pretty little red-haired half-elf is sitting back at the table again. "Pretty neat, huh?" she asks with a roguish, crooked grin.

[Mystic Muse]

The green flames flicker across her visage once more, and soon the pretty little red-haired half-elf is sitting back at the table again. "Pretty neat, huh?" she asks with a roguish, crooked grin.

"...That may be one of the coolest and creepiest things I've ever seen. At the same time." She says, actually clapping a little. "Can you only imitate how you see and hear somebody, or by looking at them, can you accurately copy them down to every last physical detail?" she asks. "Naturaly, excluding the artifical things such as clothing and weapons." she clarified.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy watched Luci's little trick with evident delight. She'd heard whispers of folk able to swap their faces and voices, but never had she the priviledge to meet one. Didn't stop her from dreaming of all that she could do with one of those on her payroll...

"Brilliant, Miss Luci, brilliant!" The halfling gave her a little applause and a knowing smirk. "An information specialist who can change her face and form; you and I are going to get along splendidly."

Melindy propped herself up with her stick - standing would probably put her below the table - and gave a bow to the group. "Melindy Milew; halfling, tactician, negotiator, and lucky charm to boot. I also throw rocks, do magic tricks, and hit things with my stick." A bit of an intentional undersell; sometimes, you just had to bow to a more impressive act. She shuffled back into her seat and eagerly turned back to Luci, awaiting her answer to Gabrielle's question.

[Trobby]

This definitely gets Shokah's attention. She shifts back in her seat when the woman in front of her catches on fire, and stares in awe as she takes on an incredibly familiar form, looking at herself to see...yes, yes she took on Shokah's EXACT form.

She quickly looks around the table, and grabs the nearest reflective surface she can find, examining her reflection closely, as if expecting her own face to have changed.

When she finds it is still exactly as she remembers it, she relaxes a bit, and looks up at Luci with...what could only be described as reverent awe.

"Are...Are you a god?"

[Lycan 01]

Luci giggles. "Nope, just a relatively boring mortal who can shapeshift."

She turns to Melindy and flashes a roguish grin - the fact that Melindy can recognize the proper applications of her talents means Melindy and her are likely cut from the same clothe, and will almost certainly make for fast friends.

She then turns back to look at Gabrielle, and smiles cheerfully. "I can only copy what I know. I could copy you right now, but only what I can see. Hair, face, eyes, voice, general body shape. Even the horn. But if you had, say, an intricate tattoo on your back, or a birthmark on your right arm, I wouldn't be able to perfectly copy those unless I had a chance to see them. So yes, the transformation is only as perfect as my knowledge of the subject. Or I can just make something up. This-" she points at her face and smiles, "Is a mix, actually. The visage of a barmaid I saw last month, though with a few small aesthetic tweaks."

[Benson]

If the group hadn't already turned heads, whelp they sure all did now. Luci's transformation seemed to have startled the elven waiter who dropped their tray, thankfully there weren't any drinks on it at the time.

"Wha-wha...wha....I've seen some odd things but I've n-never seen a changeling...before." He fidgeted and stood there gaping at Luci.

The half orc bodyguard quirked a brow and stiffen in posture as her reaction. There were some gasps from some of the frivolous young ladies who had resigned themselves to sitting at the bar counter. Even the bartender raised a brow and bobbed his head in an impressed manner.


"Wowwee....that was cool....I don't think I've ever seen such a thing....well...I have seen some mages, like one of my older brothers who could change their form with but a series of words from his lips, a series of hand gestures and a lock of hair not his own. But nothing like yours.....yours was more...elegent...I think that's the word," The young Lord Athrun rambled with an excited look in his eyes.

"I always wondered what it would be like to have a twin," He grinned at Luci and grabbed her hands with his both, as if though trying to convey his thoughts of her transforming into him for funsies.

[Hawkflight]

Emily's eyes widened as Luci transformed before her eyes. She placed her hands on the table, realized they'd been protecting her coin pouch.

"Well, I never thought I'd be working with a changeling," she said. "Not after the incident with the tax collector anyway...." she added under her breath.

[Trobby]

"I see...truly there are wonders in this city I have never seen before." Shokah says to herself in awe. "I am honored to be traveling with you, Miss Luci."

[Lycan 01]

Luci raises an eyebrow at the catgirl. "Tax collector? Pssssh. That shapeshifter needs to be a more ~creeeeee-aaaaa-tiiiiiive,~" she sing-songs in a lofty fashion.

She looks over at Shokah, and flashes another grin. "Oh, the honor is mine. And sorry if I startled you."

And then the young nobleman grabs her hands. She looks down and raises an eyebrow, before looking back up at him and grinning. "A twin, eh?"

See that mischievous flicker in her eyes?

Yeah, that's bad.

Another fwoosh of eerie green flame runs down the Changeling's body. Lord Althrun, if he's still holding her hands, will likely feel that the flames are not hot, but rather that they are cold, and create an odd tingling sensation if contact is made.

In the blink of an eye, Lord Althrun's twin is staring back at him. Only, the doppleganger is different from him in one major way - they're a lady.

"Twins are rather fascinating, wouldn't you say?" Luci asks, her voice very similar to the nobleman's in tone and manner, albeit much more effeminate for obvious reasons. "Also, you should probably be a little bit more specific with your requests, M'Lord." She gives a silly waggle of her eyebrows, just for good-natured fun.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy took a big sip of her wine to hide her big, giggling grin. Oh, this Luci gal knew what was what alright; there might be some hope for this group yet. "I'll have to include a doppelganger clause in that contract freeing us from fake orders, just in case Miss Luci attempts to use her talents to wiggle out of cleanup duties." The halfling winked good-naturedly at the female version of her employer.

[Benson]

The young lord stared, his mouth agape again as hint of red washed over his cheeks.


"I'm really cute as a lady...." He said absentmindedly as he reached up with a hand and touched the cheek of his female doppelganger self. Like a curious one he also touched the hair just to see if it felt real. After his invasion of personal space he snapped out of it and withdrew his hand. "I uh......I'm sorry....its just female me is really cute...is it weird that I think that?"

[Lycan 01]

The female Lord Althrun grins devilishly at Melindy. "Oooooo, that's a brilliant idea! I shoulda thought of that!"

She then looks back at Lord Althrun himself, particularly when he pokes her face. After looking slightly startled for a second, she smirks and lets out a soft snicker. "Oh no, it's not weird. Then again, I've seen and done a lot of weird things, so it's probably best not to ask my opinion." She then gives an "if you know what I mean" sort of grin, though it's hard to tell if she's being serious or not.

[Benson]

Anyways, after all the changeling shenanigans, Gabby introduced herself giving out whatever details Becca wants. Afterwards Athrun spoke to them about himself, his motives and reasons and then went all non sequiter with a random story of his childhood.

After an hour or so chatting, drinking (non alcohol drinks were available) and getting to know each other, Lord Athrun decided that it would be best to go have fun, partake in the festivities, live it up a little, because well, such revelry would not come so easily for them in the upcoming future.

Some departed ways, some stuck around Lord Athrun like an entourage, regardless, exploration and fun were to be had.

There was of course the circus on the outskirts of the city. Inside the city particularly in the Gold Market, peddlers were trying to sell all manner of treats. Near the palace, workers were getting ready the firework show for tonight.

Korvosian guards patrolled the city while a couple of Hellknights could be seen here and there keeping things in order and keeping rabbling and rousing out of the streets.


What is everyone want to do?

[Mystic Muse]

Gabrielle is going to go look for a good snack. Maybe a pastry, some cotton candy, some regular candy...basically, whatever she can find that sounds vaguely good.

She'll tag along with anybody who's interested in her.

[Trobby]

Shokah, who originally thought that Gabrielle was a goddess, decided to tag along with her, since she feels a slight bit of kinship with the Kirin as a fellow warrior, and also feels like perhaps fewer people will stare at her pale Shoanti face if she's with her.

And since they have time for it anyway, she decides to make some light conversation.

"So...Gabrielle, what do you make of our employer? He seems...quite a bit more inexperienced than I had hoped."

[Lycan 01]

Still looking like a female Lord Althrun, Luci tags along with the young lord and his bodyguard. Assuming they visit the markets and celebrations, Luci does a good job of keeping up with the young lord, deftly moving through the crowds without breaking pace. At one point, though she disappears into the crowd... only to reappear a short moment later right alongside Lord Althrun, gnawing on a deep-fried shark fin. "Food here's good," she says between bites, grinning with happiness and excitement. "Want a bite?" she asks, offering the fried fin out towards Lord Althrun and his stalwart half-orc companion.

After they turn down the offer or take their own bites, Luci goes back to mauling her meal in a very undignified fashion unfitting of a "proper lady," such as the one she's currently in the guise of. "So why don't you omnomnomn tell me a little more about yourself and your guard, Lord Alturn?"

[Mystic Muse]

Shokah, who originally thought that Gabrielle was a goddess, decided to tag along with her, since she feels a slight bit of kinship with the Kirin as a fellow warrior, and also feels like perhaps fewer people will stare at her pale Shoanti face if she's with her.

And since they have time for it anyway, she decides to make some light conversation.

"So...Gabrielle, what do you make of our employer? He seems...quite a bit more inexperienced than I had hoped."

"To put it nicely, he seems like a little kid in an adult's body. I also have the strange urge to call him "Spark Chaser" for some reason." :smalltongue: "I expect him to get overly excited at not overly exciting things on a rather consistent basis." Gabrielle says to Shokah.

[Trobby]

"I wonder, very much, if he understands the gravity of the mission he is setting out to accomplish...it shall be no small task for any of us."

Shokah looks around the big city a bit, feeling rather out of place. Never before has she been to an urban environment like this, or any other, to be true. And she is not quite sure what to do with herself.

Rather spontaneously, she says to Gabrielle, "So...are you interested in seeing the Castle of Korvosa?"

[Hawkflight]

Elizabeth, meanwhile, found herself looking for Voren again at the circus tent. As she looked around, she found herself at the travelling zoo, where she decided to observe the animals. She wondered if it was a petting zoo as she entered.

[TheAmishPirate]

Still looking like a female Lord Althrun, Luci tags along with the young lord and his bodyguard. Assuming they visit the markets and celebrations, Luci does a good job of keeping up with the young lord, deftly moving through the crowds without breaking pace. At one point, though she disappears into the crowd... only to reappear a short moment later right alongside Lord Althrun, gnawing on a deep-fried shark fin. "Food here's good," she says between bites, grinning with happiness and excitement. "Want a bite?" she asks, offering the fried fin out towards Lord Althrun and his stalwart half-orc companion.

After they turn down the offer or take their own bites, Luci goes back to mauling her meal in a very undignified fashion unfitting of a "proper lady," such as the one she's currently in the guise of. "So why don't you omnomnomn tell me a little more about yourself and your guard, Lord Alturn?"

Melindy had opted to tag along with Luci, get a chance to know the tricky changeling a bit better. But out of professional respect, she would give her the space she needed to work; the halfling always managed to conveniently get waylaid by a vendor, or dash ahead to catch sight of some show. They would have plenty of time to talk later, of course.

Those with sharp eyes would notice that the Halfling never left a single footprint, but then again, they were awfully small folks. Must be one of their small-folk tricks.

[Benson]

4:20-ish PM

Going North in Korvosa

As Gabrielle and Shokah talk about the young lord and walk in a north-ish manner, Gabrielle will see a few peddlers trying to sell some fried pastries in a very saturated market right now. Many of them were getting shooed away by Korvosian guards on account of not having permits to sell in the South Shore district.
=================

Going somewhere in Korvosa
Lord Athrun happily took some bites of her deep fried shark fin as he also happily pigged out on some fried reefclaw meat on a stick.

"Mmm...well....what do you want to know exactly madam?" He asked his 'twin' after a moment of silence due to chewing and swallowing. Around them as they walked down the narrow cobblestone streets, children played around playing with popper rocks.

As for Melindy, the half orc bodyguard kept an eye on her, couldn't have one of her young lord's companions getting trampled on or something. A few little kids tried to get Melindy to join in their games since she looked a little kid, to those not really paying attention.
==================

Umbra Circus Carnival Grounds-Travelling Zoo


As Elizabeth entered the tent that lead into the zoo, it turned out to not be the petting zoo she expected. It was what it was self described as, a zoo. But there were still many sights to behold in cages, like several mundane creatures such as bears, jungle cats, monkeys etc to more magical beasts such as three animated skeletons, a manticore, and even a baby dragon.

"Come one and all, admission is free even with so many animals to see~ See the amazing albino monkey twins and Ottie the ocelot, feast your eyes on a monstrous manticore," A carnival barker announced as guests walked into the large tent to take witness to the animals on display. "Donations are always welcomed, every coin you donate helps us help the animals." The barker continued on with a flair, repeating the same lines but with slightly different variations.

Moments later, Miss Starr would feel someone grab her shoulder, turning around would reveal the tiefling Voren flashing her a smile.

"Heard there was a catfolk wandering the grounds, knew it had to be you." He chuckled.

"Oh...is this your friend Voren?" The barker asked with a small smirk as he looked down at the two from his podium.

"Oh, yes, a fellow gunslinger, and all around cool cat...haha....I probably should get hit for that joke.." Voren laughed keeping his hat on his head. "Miss Starr, this is Berthold Flavion, he owns the zoo himself."

The barker tilted his tricorn hat at Elizabeth.

[Hawkflight]

Eliza smiled to herself as she observed the animals in their pens, but the smile vanished when she saw the dragon. When Voren and his friend arrived, she turned to face them, her expression unreadable.

"Voren?" she asked in a slow, measured voice. "What is that dragon doing here?"

[Benson]

Eliza smiled to herself as she observed the animals in their pens, but the smile vanished when she saw the dragon. When Voren and his friend arrived, she turned to face them, her expression unreadable.

"Voren?" she asked in a slow, measured voice. "What is that dragon doing here?"


Umbra Circus Carnival Grounds-Travelling Zoo


"Its uh...on display to attract onlookers?" He offered with an awkward smile and forced chuckle.

"Voren, don't hurt yourself," Berthold Flavion told the tielfing keeping an affable smile and shooed him off to the side.

"Miss, I am a collector, a collector who is simply trying to show the good people fantastic creatures they would never otherwise see in their lives, I don't even charge folks because that would be wrong." He told Miss Starr as he leaned against his podium.

As for the baby dragon, it just slept there in its carnival wagon display cage as two guards stood at the sides to keep people from getting too close or sticking their hands between the bars and getting bit. From inside the wagon and the entrance angle, it would be hard to get a good look of it sleeping.

[Hawkflight]

Umbra Circus Carnival Grounds-Travelling Zoo

"Its uh...on display to attract onlookers?" He offered with an awkward smile and forced chuckle.

"Voren, don't hurt yourself," Berthold Flavion told the tielfing keeping an affable smile and shooed him off to the side.

"Miss, I am a collector, a collector who is simply trying to show the good people fantastic creatures they would never otherwise see in their lives, I don't even charge folks because that would be wrong." He told Miss Starr as he leaned against his podium.

As for the baby dragon, it just slept there in its carnival wagon display cage as two guards stood at the sides to keep people from getting too close or sticking their hands between the bars and getting bit. From inside the wagon and the entrance angle, it would be hard to get a good look of it sleeping.

Elizabeth glanced back at the dragon before speaking.

"Did it consent to this?" she asked. "Also, is it a he or a she?"

[Trobby]

Shokah, who is waiting for Gabrielle to respond, eyes the various pastries, and the men being told not to sell those pastries, warily. She cannot imagine why they would not be allowed to sell their wares where they wish to, but decides it is best not to interfere with city regulations.

[Lycan 01]

With Lord Althrun

The human-guised Changeling grins coyly. "Well, now I know that you're not as haughty and arrogant as most nobles I've known. Most of 'em would have just started babbling about themselves, not ask for specifics and such," she explains slyly. "But no, I don't really wanna know anything specific. Just whatever you feel like sharing. Family, hobbies, exploits, hopes and dreams, cooking ability or lack thereof, so on and so forth," she shrugs, before resuming her meal.

[Benson]

Elizabeth glanced back at the dragon before speaking.

"Did it consent to this?" she asked. "Also, is it a he or a she?"

"Consent? You're a funny feline...girl..both....You might as well have asked me if a hammer gave its consent to be used to build a fence. Hahah...." Berthold Flavion then gave Voren a look as if to say to 'get this hairy hippie out of here'. Voren kinda had hung out in the background a little derped.

"Hauh...oh uh...heeeeeeeeeeeey Miss Starr....you missed my show...but...I have that little target set up behind my tent...I totally want to see your gun skills," Voren told the catfolk putting on a huge grin.

Feel free to Roll a Sense Motive in the OOC thread




With Lord Althrun

The human-guised Changeling grins coyly. "Well, now I know that you're not as haughty and arrogant as most nobles I've known. Most of 'em would have just started babbling about themselves, not ask for specifics and such," she explains slyly. "But no, I don't really wanna know anything specific. Just whatever you feel like sharing. Family, hobbies, exploits, hopes and dreams, cooking ability or lack thereof, so on and so forth," she shrugs, before resuming her meal.


"Oh...I like collecting wizard moving picture books....you ever seen them?...They're like those..ah..animated flip books but enchanted to have sounds and smells and other neat effects as you flip the pages and let the image move," The young lord said gesturing with his hands, almost dropping his own treats.

[Mystic Muse]

"I wonder, very much, if he understands the gravity of the mission he is setting out to accomplish...it shall be no small task for any of us."

Shokah looks around the big city a bit, feeling rather out of place. Never before has she been to an urban environment like this, or any other, to be true. And she is not quite sure what to do with herself.

Rather spontaneously, she says to Gabrielle, "So...are you interested in seeing the Castle of Korvosa?"

"Yes, I would be quite interested in that, but can we get some pastries first?" She asks, paying one of the venders for a particularly tasty looking one she saw. Mmm, cream filling!

[Lycan 01]

"Oh...I like collecting wizard moving picture books....you ever seen them?...They're like those..ah..animated flip books but enchanted to have sounds and smells and other neat effects as you flip the pages and let the image move," The young lord said gesturing with his hands, almost dropping his own treats.

"Neat!" Luci chimes. "I actually got hired to recover one of those once, back when I was doing jobs in Riddleport. The proper owner was very happy to pay me for its safe return, and even happier to pay me not to tell his wife about its existence." She gives a waggle of her eyebrows, so young Lord will fully understand what sort of book she had to steal back.

[Trobby]

"Yes, I would be quite interested in that, but can we get some pastries first?" She asks, paying one of the venders for a particularly tasty looking one she saw. Mmm, cream filling!

"...ah, yes, the exchange of money. I have some, I believe I shall give this a try."

Shokah purchases one for herself, and is a bit confused when the vendor tries to give her back more coins than she gave him, but reluctantly accepts his odd generosity, and bites into the pastry.

"The castle was built atop thassalonian ruins...if there are any relics left from them, I would most definitely like to see it with my own eyes."

[Mystic Muse]

"...ah, yes, the exchange of money. I have some, I believe I shall give this a try."

Shokah purchases one for herself, and is a bit confused when the vendor tries to give her back more coins than she gave him, but reluctantly accepts his odd generosity, and bites into the pastry.

"The castle was built atop thassalonian ruins...if there are any relics left from them, I would most definitely like to see it with my own eyes."

"I would too. Honestly, the whole experience sounds like it could be quite exciting in a good way, even if our employer does sound a little ill-prepared." Gabrielle said to Shokah, and resumed eating her pastry.

[Benson]

To the Somewhere in Korvosa

"Riddleport...how exciting...Is it really all hive of scum and villainy---" And then Luci made mention, or made hint at what sort of magical animated flip book she recovered in her job. He gave her a bashful look.

"I admit.....I myself may have...once or twice...once...entertained friends with taking ganders at those...books...hahah...heh...I don't even know why I admitted that." He rubbed his mouth with his gloved hand and sheepishly smiled.
---

Towards the Heights district/Citadel Hill and thus Castle Korvosa


When the two eventually make their way down the just as many busy streets filled with a lot of people enjoying the festivities, they would soon be closer to the grand Castle Korvosa that loomed over her city. Shops, and carts and what not lined the streets and it was colorful.

Before them rising above ground level was the Grand Mastaba, a four-sided sandstone pyramid that was built to a cyclopean scale. A set of stairs cut for humans rises up the centers of all four sides of the pyramid. Though despite its grandness, it is slightly marred with one corner crumbled and worn.

<Optional Knowledge History Check for the Grand Mastaba>

On top of the grand mastaba was Castle Korvosa, teh castle itself was formed black marble with multiple towers rise from the roofed keep.

[Hawkflight]

"Consent? You're a funny feline...girl..both....You might as well have asked me if a hammer gave its consent to be used to build a fence. Hahah...." Berthold Flavion then gave Voren a look as if to say to 'get this hairy hippie out of here'. Voren kinda had hung out in the background a little derped.

"Hauh...oh uh...heeeeeeeeeeeey Miss Starr....you missed my show...but...I have that little target set up behind my tent...I totally want to see your gun skills," Voren told the catfolk putting on a huge grin.

Oh.

...

Oh, that was so the wrong thing to say. And you could tell just by glancing at her.

"Except a hammer is not a living, sapient creature," she growled. "That's not like using a tool to build a f***ing fence, or even a zoo. That is slavery, and you know it."

[Lycan 01]

Luci smirks coyly at the young noble. "You admitted it because I put you at ease with my friendly demeanor and unnatural charm, and because it's rather obvious that I won't judge you for your choices of reading material. Or at least, that would be my guess."

The Changeling grins crookedly. "And yes, Riddleport is quite the city. Scoundrels, rogues, thieves, the intricacies of the criminal underworld, manipulation, gambling, prostitution, corruption, vandalism, smuggling, annnnnd the occasional case of public intoxication." One of these things is not like the other. "Usually all within the same city block!" she exclaims cheerfully. Is she joking? She's probably joking. Probably.

[Benson]

Umbra Traveling Circus-Zoo Tent

"Sapient?...Haha...they're just beasts silly girl," Berthold Flavion chuckled as his expression turned sour as she took to using foul language. "Voren, tell your little foul mouthed friend that it's not slavery and even if it was, slavery isn't illegal here." Technically. At this point, some of the carnival guards started to take notice and slowly advance their way toward the scene.

Voren found himself with a fretful look and put up his hands defensively over his chest. He then winced and pleadingly looked at Elizabeth. "Miss Starr...please...drop it...I'll...explain to you the situation.....in private.." He whispered in her ear as if he didn't want Mister Flavion to hear his words.

=====================

Luci smirks coyly at the young noble. "You admitted it because I put you at ease with my friendly demeanor and unnatural charm, and because it's rather obvious that I won't judge you for your choices of reading material. Or at least, that would be my guess."

The Changeling grins crookedly. "And yes, Riddleport is quite the city. Scoundrels, rogues, thieves, the intricacies of the criminal underworld, manipulation, gambling, prostitution, corruption, vandalism, smuggling, annnnnd the occasional case of public intoxication." One of these things is not like the other. "Usually all within the same city block!" she exclaims cheerfully. Is she joking? She's probably joking. Probably.

"While I was still in university in *Egorian, it was kinda like that...but not really...at the same time it can be a den of sin...but its also heavily regulated. Like...you can partake in all the prostitution, gambling and drinking you want without legal repercussions...so as long as you pay your Vice Taxes in a timely manner." Athrun said after listening and bobbing his head as Luci spoke. He then munched on his pastry gobbling up the last bite.

[Trobby]

"I would too. Honestly, the whole experience sounds like it could be quite exciting in a good way, even if our employer does sound a little ill-prepared." Gabrielle said to Shokah, and resumed eating her pastry.

"Well, regardless of his experience, this is a journey that must be made." Shokah said with certainty.




Towards the Heights district/Citadel Hill and thus Castle Korvosa


When the two eventually make their way down the just as many busy streets filled with a lot of people enjoying the festivities, they would soon be closer to the grand Castle Korvosa that loomed over her city. Shops, and carts and what not lined the streets and it was colorful.

Before them rising above ground level was the Grand Mastaba, a four-sided sandstone pyramid that was built to a cyclopean scale. A set of stairs cut for humans rises up the centers of all four sides of the pyramid. Though despite its grandness, it is slightly marred with one corner crumbled and worn.

<Optional Knowledge History Check for the Grand Mastaba>

On top of the grand mastaba was Castle Korvosa, teh castle itself was formed black marble with multiple towers rise from the roofed keep.

Shokah nods in reverence at the grand Mastaba, taking in the details of the monumental building with great respect.

[Lycan 01]

Luci flashes a bemused smirk. "Sounds a bit like Riddleport yes. Only the Vice Taxes there come in much more varied forms. Protection money, bribes, gang dues, friendly donations, having well-placed connections, owning a bigger sword or wittier tongue than the other person..." she muses. Her smirk then turns into a roguish grin. "Being able to assume almost any identity also comes in handy. Honor amongst thieves can get you places, even if you're not the thief they think you are."

[Hawkflight]

Umbra Traveling Circus-Zoo Tent

"Sapient?...Haha...they're just beasts silly girl," Berthold Flavion chuckled as his expression turned sour as she took to using foul language. "Voren, tell your little foul mouthed friend that it's not slavery and even if it was, slavery isn't illegal here." Technically. At this point, some of the carnival guards started to take notice and slowly advance their way toward the scene.

"Dragons are highly intellectual creatures, with green dragons in particular making numerous advances in the intellectual sciences! They're as sapient, if not more so, than you or I! I bet you don't even know what 'thaumic energy' is," Elizabeth growled.


Voren found himself with a fretful look and put up his hands defensively over his chest. He then winced and pleadingly looked at Elizabeth. "Miss Starr...please...drop it...I'll...explain to you the situation.....in private.." He whispered in her ear as if he didn't want Mister Flavion to hear his words.

The catgirl paused to consider his words. Slowly, she nodded, stepping back. "You have one chance," she whispered back.

[TheAmishPirate]

A game might've been fun, were Melindy not already occupied with Lord Athrun and Luci. Staying and playing could very well mean losing them, and that just wouldn't do. Besides, she could still have a bit of fun in the process...

"Now what's this game again?" she asked the youngsters, purposefully adding a youthful inflection to her voice.

[Benson]

Luci flashes a bemused smirk. "Sounds a bit like Riddleport yes. Only the Vice Taxes there come in much more varied forms. Protection money, bribes, gang dues, friendly donations, having well-placed connections, owning a bigger sword or wittier tongue than the other person..." she muses. Her smirk then turns into a roguish grin. "Being able to assume almost any identity also comes in handy. Honor amongst thieves can get you places, even if you're not the thief they think you are."

"So were you like those good guys who tricked bad guys by pretending to be bad guys?" The young lord asked Luci.



"Dragons are highly intellectual creatures, with green dragons in particular making numerous advances in the intellectual sciences! They're as sapient, if not more so, than you or I! I bet you don't even know what 'thaumic energy' is," Elizabeth growled.

The catgirl paused to consider his words. Slowly, she nodded, stepping back. "You have one chance," she whispered back.

Berthold Flavion just bah'd at her as she and Voren went off in private, he watched them with narrowed eyes until one of the carnival guards approached him making sure everything was alright.

"Just some hippie..probably has elven blood in her, hmmph." He told the guard out of earshot.

Anyways.

Voren took Elizabeth to a relatively private spot next to a display wagon with some monkeys doing some family grooming.

"Yeah uhm.....Its not a real baby dragon....Berthold...he just passes off a monitor lizard as one to attract customers who don't know any better....It is his zoo's private little secret...he doesn't know I know or how I found out...so...don't tell him I know," Voren said all hush hush and nervously as she stuck his hands in his coat pockets all stiffly like. "Its all this silly feud he has between the carnival founder Miss Almara Delisen who has no interest in the zoo nor see's the point of having a zoo that doesn't charge admission."


A game might've been fun, were Melindy not already occupied with Lord Athrun and Luci. Staying and playing could very well mean losing them, and that just wouldn't do. Besides, she could still have a bit of fun in the process...

"Now what's this game again?" she asked the youngsters, purposefully adding a youthful inflection to her voice.

"Pop rock dance...we just made it up!" One of the young youths declared with a big grin as he then demonstrated with his friend. He grabbed a handful of small poppers and tossed them at the ground around his friend's feet as they harmlessly popped and briefly sparked. Meanwhile at the time his friend jumped around in place trying not to have any poppers pop on his feet and laughed in childish silliness. No one said it was going to be the most challenging game.

[Hawkflight]

[COLOR="YellowGreen"]Berthold Flavion just bah'd at her as she and Voren went off in private, he watched them with narrowed eyes until one of the carnival guards approached him making sure everything was alright.

"Just some hippie..probably has elven blood in her, hmmph." He told the guard out of earshot.

Anyways.

Voren took Elizabeth to a relatively private spot next to a display wagon with some monkeys doing some family grooming.

"Yeah uhm.....Its not a real baby dragon....Berthold...he just passes off a monitor lizard as one to attract customers who don't know any better....It is his zoo's private little secret...he doesn't know I know or how I found out...so...don't tell him I know," Voren said all hush hush and nervously as she stuck his hands in his coat pockets all stiffly like. "Its all this silly feud he has between the carnival founder Miss Almara Delisen who has no interest in the zoo nor see's the point of having a zoo that doesn't charge admission."

"I ... right, of course," said Elizabeth, calming down. "My apologies."

A small pause.

"So ... you said you wanted to see my gunplay skills, yes?"

[Benson]

"I ... right, of course," said Elizabeth, calming down. "My apologies."

A small pause.

"So ... you said you wanted to see my gunplay skills, yes?"

"Its alright...it wasn't your fault.....But hey....good to know ya got such a good heart," He flashed a smirk and tilted the brim of his hat.

"Yea...indeed I did say I would like to see them, Miss Lady gunslinger, set up behind my wagon....Shall we go and leave this odorous place before ol' Berthold decides to bother us?" He asked as he offered his arm in a gentlemanly manner.

[Lycan 01]

Luci lets out a lofty giggle. "My dear Lord Althrun," she says, her voice taking on a poised, aristocratic tone to match her appearance, "The world is not divided so starkly between 'good guys' and 'bad guys.' There's no black and white - just many shades of grey. But yes, I suppose you could call me the 'good guy' in situations like that. Stealing a stolen item back for its rightful owner, gathering incriminating information on a corrupt official..." She narrows her eyes. "I'm no killer, mind you. I abhor violence. But I have done my fair share of lying, stealing, and manipulating."

The Changeling smiles knowingly. "If you have a problem with my line of work, say the word, and I shall quit your company. I cannot fault you for not wishing to employ a criminal, honorable and skilled as she may be."

[Mystic Muse]

"Well, regardless of his experience, this is a journey that must be made." Shokah said with certainty.

"Indeed. I'm looking forward to getting to know most of the troupe a bit better, aren't you?" Gabrielle asks Shokah.

[Trobby]

"...Perhaps." Shokah said, not quite as enthusiastically. "I suppose that will be inevitable, given the amount of time we shall spend together in this quest."

[Benson]

Somewhere with Luci, Melindy and Athrun


"No...no...its..uh fine...I myself grew up in a grey and grey world, albeit more gilded, I would not like you to quit," He said flashing a small sincere smile with a slight tilt of hi head.

"Anyways, let us not speak of such morality things, let us instead enjoy the festivities. I myself fancy going to the carnival circus on the outskirts of town, I saw a flyer for an apparently 'all seeing' fortune teller." He said with a more playful boyish smile. "And games...I fancy playing me some games of skill."
===========

The Grand Mastaba Palace Ground Floor

Casual glancing around would of course various small merchant stands selling smaller fireworks of both mundane and magical variety. Along with of course potential customers. There also some laborers carrying larger loads of fireworks for the firework show tonight.

<Roll a Perception check if you'd like, Becca, Trobby>

[Hawkflight]

"Its alright...it wasn't your fault.....But hey....good to know ya got such a good heart," He flashed a smirk and tilted the brim of his hat.

"Yea...indeed I did say I would like to see them, Miss Lady gunslinger, set up behind my wagon....Shall we go and leave this odorous place before ol' Berthold decides to bother us?" He asked as he offered his arm in a gentlemanly manner.

Elizabeth flinched when Voren offered his arm. She stood stock still for a moment before covering it up with a smile. She followed Voren out back to the gun range.

[Lycan 01]

Luci grins. "Soothsayers and carnival games? Sounds fun to me! Lead the way, good sir."

[TheAmishPirate]

"Pop rock dance...we just made it up!" One of the young youths declared with a big grin as he then demonstrated with his friend. He grabbed a handful of small poppers and tossed them at the ground around his friend's feet as they harmlessly popped and briefly sparked. Meanwhile at the time his friend jumped around in place trying not to have any poppers pop on his feet and laughed in childish silliness. No one said it was going to be the most challenging game.

Melindy nodded sagely. "Pop rock dance, eh? Sadly, I don't quite have the time for a dance..."

She waited the requisite few seconds to hopefully elicit a chorus of 'awwwwww's, before giving them a knowing smile. "...so how about a trick instead?"

With a quick, practiced gesture and a word of power, her eyes flashed with light. Water appeared out of thin air, settling on the ground around the children like the early morning dew. She seized a small handful of the poppers and, with a grand flourish of her stick, threw them to the ground in an arc. If all went well, the brief flash of heat from the sparkers should vaporize the water, leaving behind a mystical-looking puff of steam.

[Benson]

Gabby and Shokah

The pair would notice nothing else of note aside from the regular festivities. What do Shokah and Gabrielle want to do now?



Elizabeth flinched when Voren offered his arm. She stood stock still for a moment before covering it up with a smile. She followed Voren out back to the gun range.

As for Voren, he didn't notice the flinching, he was content with some pretty and furry arm candy on his arm, assuming she did accept it of course.

Anyways, he lead her to the carnie wagons and to his non descript covered wagon. Behind it there were three archery targets set up at different distances, one at 20, 30 and 50 feet. Though despite archery targets they worked well enough for a gun.




Luci grins. "Soothsayers and carnival games? Sounds fun to me! Lead the way, good sir."

"Alright...let's see if Melindy will join us as well, I don't fancy leaving her behind." He said with a smile as he then turned his head just as Melindy did her cantrip.


Melindy nodded sagely. "Pop rock dance, eh? Sadly, I don't quite have the time for a dance..."

She waited the requisite few seconds to hopefully elicit a chorus of 'awwwwww's, before giving them a knowing smile. "...so how about a trick instead?"

With a quick, practiced gesture and a word of power, her eyes flashed with light. Water appeared out of thin air, settling on the ground around the children like the early morning dew. She seized a small handful of the poppers and, with a grand flourish of her stick, threw them to the ground in an arc. If all went well, the brief flash of heat from the sparkers should vaporize the water, leaving behind a mystical-looking puff of steam.

There was indeed a chorus of awwwws and them some yeses in regards to the trick.

"Haha..cooool....are you a wizard?" One of them asked as he and a friend waves their hands through the steam puff. "Do you go the magic school here?"

[Hawkflight]

Elizabeth indeed didn't take the offered arm, seeming very ... nervous about it all of a sudden. She followed him back to his trailer, fingering her gun nervously.

---

The second the first target behind the trailer came into view, everything seemed to freeze for the catgirl as she pulled on the strings of time, stealing a split second for her very own. As the world froze, she whipped out her pistol and shot the target ...

Spending a mote of time to act in the surprise round.

Touch attack roll (firing both barrels): [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
... hitting it dead center and completely obliterating it.

[Trobby]

"Hmm...do you think they would mind if we went inside?" Shokah asked Gabrielle

[TheAmishPirate]

There was indeed a chorus of awwwws and them some yeses in regards to the trick.

"Haha..cooool....are you a wizard?" One of them asked as he and a friend waves their hands through the steam puff. "Do you go the magic school here?"

"A wizard, hmmm?" Melindy stroked her chin with a knowing smile, before clasping the lad's hand and slipping a popper into it. "Maybe I am, but then again, maybe you all are?" She winked and motioned for the boy to throw his popper on the wet ground, see what would happen.

[Lycan 01]

Luci smirks in amusement as Mindy puts on a show for the kids. It's a good reflection of the halfling's character, and further confirms the Changeling's suspicions that they're going to get along rather well. "I never was one for magic," Luci offhandedly muses. "Beyond the shapeshifting stuff, I mean. But that's something I was born with, not learned," she shrugs.

[Benson]

Umbra Circus/Carnival, The Carnie wagons


Voren was taken by utter and absolute surprise when from out of nowhere Elizabeth had her guns out without him seeing, and believe him, he had been checking her out, and hit the target dead center. The bullet pierced the wooden and straw bullseye target and hit the wooden support post behind it and splintered it beyond recognition causing the whole rest of the target to fall on the grass.

"Bhwuh hauh what....?" Was all that managed to come out of Voren as he then quickly collected himself to seem cool and coughed into his hand. "L-lucky shot.."

====================

Somewhere in Korvosa


The young boy smiled at the thought of being a wizard who went to one of the prestigious magic schools here and threw down that popper on the wet ground.

Even the dopey Athrun was impressed with such cantrips and parlor tricks despite having grown up in a magic leaning household and knowing some magic himself and watched with just as much fervor as the children.

[Hawkflight]

Umbra Circus/Carnival, The Carnie wagons


Voren was taken by utter and absolute surprise when from out of nowhere Elizabeth had her guns out without him seeing, and believe him, he had been checking her out, and hit the target dead center. The bullet pierced the wooden and straw bullseye target and hit the wooden support post behind it and splintered it beyond recognition causing the whole rest of the target to fall on the grass.

"Bhwuh hauh what....?" Was all that managed to come out of Voren as he then quickly collected himself to seem cool and coughed into his hand. "L-lucky shot."

"You think so?" asked Eliza, bouncing a pair of paper cartridges off her gun before catching them in the twin barrels. She appeared contemplative for a moment, before swiftly drawing her other pistol (the dragon pistol) and aiming her guns at the two targets.

"Betcha a silver piece I can hit both targets," she said. Squinting against the sun, she aimed her pistols and pulled the triggers ...

Activating the Focused Aim deed.

Attack 1: [roll0]
Attack 2: [roll1]

[TheAmishPirate]

Somewhere in Korvosa


The young boy smiled at the thought of being a wizard who went to one of the prestigious magic schools here and threw down that popper on the wet ground.

Even the dopey Athrun was impressed with such cantrips and parlor tricks despite having grown up in a magic leaning household and knowing some magic himself and watched with just as much fervor as the children.

When the poppers fell, they let out a whoosh of smoke and light, leaving behind misty vapors from the damp ground. The children stood mystified, before all clamoring to get their own poppers and be little wizards and sorceresses. A happy new game, one that should last quite a while given how much water Melindy could create.

Speaking of the Halfling, she'd slipped away in the hubbub and darted back to Lord Arthrun and Luci's side. "Now I believe a trip to the carnival was in order, yes?" She tried very hard to keep the smug smile off of her face. At least while her employer was looking. :smallwink:

[Lycan 01]

"Jolly good show," Luci muses in a lofty, aloof voice, giving off the air of an unimpressed noble. She then cracks a playful smirk.

[Benson]

Umbra Circus/Carnival, The Carnie wagons

Voren's eyes went briefly wide as he watched both targets get hit as the bullets passed through and embedded themselves into the ground, spent. He then shook his head and grumbled something about 'Desna favoring catfolk' or something. He fished into his coat pocket and and pulled out a silver piece and flicked it over for her.

"Impressive...N-not bad." He said with a smile mixed with awe and impressed envy.
-------------


Umbra Circus/Carnival Grounds

http://oi45.tinypic.com/mrfsbl.jpg

And so the three after their little side..thing impressing some children with parlor-like tricks, they wound up walking south of the city to the outskirts where the carnival was set up.

"Let's hit the games first..!" Athrun declared with gusto like a young child.

[Mystic Muse]

"Hmm...do you think they would mind if we went inside?" Shokah asked Gabrielle

"No, I don't think so. I've been wrong before though, so maybe." She says to Shokah.

[Hawkflight]

Umbra Circus/Carnival, The Carnie wagons

Voren's eyes went briefly wide as he watched both targets get hit as the bullets passed through and embedded themselves into the ground, spent. He then shook his head and grumbled something about 'Desna favoring catfolk' or something. He fished into his coat pocket and and pulled out a silver piece and flicked it over for her.

"Impressive...N-not bad." He said with a smile mixed with awe and impressed envy.

Elizabeth caught the coin with a smirk, then let out a small sigh as she holstered her pistols.

"I will admit, I did slightly cheat on the first shot," she admitted. "I ... well, let's just say I have a bit more time than everyone else. The impeccable aim though ... that was all skill," she added, smirking again.

[Lycan 01]

"Sure, games sound good," Luci nods. "I'll let you know if any of 'em are trying to swindle you. Riddleport's full of con games, from shells to three-card monte. Saw a guy cheat at darts once, actually..." The Changeling lets out a small giggle. "Clever trick. Not too clever on who to trick with it, though..."

[Trobby]

"No, I don't think so. I've been wrong before though, so maybe." She says to Shokah.

"Surely they will not mind. And if they do, they shall let us know."

Assuming this is good enough logic, and defying any common sense, she walks right over to the Mastaba, looking to gain entrance.

[Benson]

Elizabeth

"More time than anyone else? What do you mean?" Voren asked confusedly about it.
--------

Athrun/Luci/Melindy

"How do you cheat at darts without being obvious?" Athrun asked with a tilt of his head. There were several games with small crowds of people waiting their turn. Such as a high striker game. A heavy, long-handled mallet leans against a 3-foot-wide and 12-foot-high wooden tower crowned with a stuffed lion’s head. At the base is a lever attached to a puck that slides up and down a pole running the length of the tower up to the lion’s head.

"Hey...who wants to have a small wager on who can get the highest score for this?" Athrun asked with a small grin.
--------

Shokah/Gabrielle


As Shokah approaches the human sized staircase that leads up...quite a long way up, a guard moves his spear sideways to block her from advancing.

"My apologies ma'am, guest visits to the castle have been suspended for now due to the King's recent death. Only those with royal business or employees/laborers of the Sky Rocket Hut are permitted." The guard said to Shokah.

[TheAmishPirate]

"You'd be surprised the sort of games you can catch a dishonest man at, Lord Arthrun." Meldiny idly commented as she eyed up the games. A few of these looked up her alley, especially the ones requiring a steady eye. Her little stick might just come in handy there...

So naturally, their host would go and pick a test of strength. The halfling puckered her brow in thought as she studied the game. "I think I should referee this round, unless you fancy using me as the mallet." She chuckled, half to show she was joking and half to show there were no hard feelings over his choice of game. After digging about in her pockets, she produced a small, empty coin pouch and held it out to Lord, Luci, and bodyguard. "Come on then; let's see the coin...unless either of you two have a more interesting wager in mind." She grinned eagerly.

Now then; to see if Luci would propose anything different, or play it safe and stick with money.

[Hawkflight]

Elizabeth

"More time than anyone else? What do you mean?" Voren asked confusedly about it.

"Oh, well, that's not important," Elizabeth deflected. "What I want to see is how good you are with that six-shooter of yours."

[Trobby]

Shokah/Gabrielle


As Shokah approaches the human sized staircase that leads up...quite a long way up, a guard moves his spear sideways to block her from advancing.

"My apologies ma'am, guest visits to the castle have been suspended for now due to the King's recent death. Only those with royal business or employees/laborers of the Sky Rocket Hut are permitted." The guard said to Shokah.

It is too bad Gabrielle doesn't know Shokah better, or she might've been able to stop her from saying this.

"The king is dead? Then by whose authority do you block my passage?"

[Benson]

"Oh, well, that's not important," Elizabeth deflected. "What I want to see is how good you are with that six-shooter of yours."

"Eh...now I just kinda feel humbled...with my manlyhood threatened," He said sheepishly and fingered his gun in its holster. He felt nervous now, like he would make a fool of himself.
===============


It is too bad Gabrielle doesn't know Shokah better, or she might've been able to stop her from saying this.

"The king is dead? Then by whose authority do you block my passage?"

"By the Queen's authority. Long live the Queen." He said the last part as he sharply put his hand over his armored chest and stared at nothing as he did so.

[Trobby]

"Ah, so when the king is slain, it is his wife that takes over the rule of the land. I see. That is a fair bit more clever than I thought your Monarchy would be."

Oh god Gabrielle stop her.

[Mystic Muse]

"Ah, so when the king is slain, it is his wife that takes over the rule of the land. I see. That is a fair bit more clever than I thought your Monarchy would be."

Oh god Gabrielle stop her.

"Ignore my friend, she's a little ignorant of our ways, and not quite aware of our social decorum. Shokah, please keep quiet for a bit, if you don't mind. Shokah, since we're not permitted, we should just leave before we get in trouble." Gabrielle suggests. "We can come back some other time." she says, keeping her smile up in order to hopefully keep the tone light.

[Lycan 01]

Carnival Games

Luci giggles. "I never said he wasn't obvious. Which is why he got his face smashed through a table by some of the other tavern patrons. Hee. A mug of ale landed on somebody else, and then the whole place went crazy. I wound up smacking this one dwarf with a table leg. He actually started flirting with me. So I hit him again." She shakes her head, grinning to herself. "Didn't have quite the desired effect."

She then eyes Mindy's "wager." "Hmmmm," she muses, raising a brow. "Alright, how 'bout this. I've still got the strength for a few more transformations today, so... I'll wager a masque," she says, flashing a very broad, leering grin. Wait, are those fangs? The grin disappears before anyone can be sure, and she puts on an aloof smile. "If I lose, the winner of the wager gets to pick a masque for me to wear." Pause. "Within reason, of course."

[Benson]

Athrun/Melindy/Luci

The young noble looked down at Melindy and then at Luci and then stroked his hairless chin as he posed to look in thought.

"Very well then, you shall wager a masque and I will wager a song about a subject of your choice, deal?" He asked as he stuck his hand out for a shake.

===--------------======

Gabrielle/Shokah

The guard looked at Shokah with an expression of astonishment of the tactless words that came out of her mouth. His mouth was close to contorting into one of irkdom when Gabrielle thankfully interfered.

"Yes...perhaps another time when the atmosphere is not so heavy.." He said slowly and carefully and loosened the grip of his spear and let hang in his loose hold.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy put her sack away; coin wagers had to be the most uncreative and boring of wagers anyway. At least, unless there was a lot of coin on the table. Then things got interesting.

The halfling nodded in approval to the two contestants. "A song against a masque; the judge declares this to be a fair wager. Shake, and let the contest begin!" For such a little thing, she had such an important-sounding voice.

[Lycan 01]

Luci has no problem shaking on the deal. "Sounds fair to me," she says, flashing another fang-revealing grin.

[Trobby]

"Ah, but I was most eager to see how the Chellexians had built over the sacred ruins of the Thassalonians. It's quite interesting, how they've co-opted the two together."

Gabrielle, you may want to start dragging her away.

[Hawkflight]

"Eh...now I just kinda feel humbled...with my manlyhood threatened," He said sheepishly and fingered his gun in its holster. He felt nervous now, like he would make a fool of himself.

"Bah, don't worry," Elizabeth assured him. "Your manhood was threatened the moment we met," she added with a wink.

[Benson]

"Alright then, well, ladies first," Athrun said with a bow and hand flourish towards his female twin and then blinked confusedly when he could have sworn he saw fangs.

When it was their turn, or rather Luci's turn the barker grinned and gave her a tilt of his hat. "Hey there little lady, gonna give it whirl? Well step right up and show us what you got, two copper pieces a swing."

<Luci would have to make a Strength check>

=================================

"Bah, don't worry," Elizabeth assured him. "Your manhood was threatened the moment we met," she added with a wink.

"Ouch....your words are sharper than the sting of goddess Calistria," he playfully winced and rubbed the back of his head.

"Well...ahem...since ya broke one of my targets, can ya get another one from my wagon while I put these other two back in alignment?"

[Hawkflight]

"Ouch....your words are sharper than the sting of goddess Calistria," he playfully winced and rubbed the back of his head.

"Well...ahem...since ya broke one of my targets, can ya get another one from my wagon while I put these other two back in alignment?"

"Eheheh ... right," Elizabeth said sheepishly. She stepped into the wagon to grab a target, looking around in curiosity.

[Mystic Muse]

"Ah, but I was most eager to see how the Chellexians had built over the sacred ruins of the Thassalonians. It's quite interesting, how they've co-opted the two together."

Gabrielle, you may want to start dragging her away.

"Okay, Shokah, we're leaving. Sorry to bother you, have a nice day." she says to the guard, and starts dragging Shokah away.

[Trobby]

"Is there some sort of problem, Gabrielle? ...Have I perhaps misspoken? I admit I am not quite familiar with the Chellexian royal decorum..."

[Lycan 01]

Luci shrugs, pays the toll, and then picks up the mallet. Rather than grinning or bragging, she actually looks kinda serious.

With a grunt, she hefts the mallet, and swings it down with all her might.


(Strength: [roll0])


All her might may not be as mighty as she'd hoped.

[Benson]

Luci/Melindy/Athrun/His Half Orc Bodyguard-Carnival Midway

Luci swung down as hard as her strength could allow as the puck flew up.....about six feet on the pole. The fake stuffed lion head above the twelve foot pole let out a magically animated meow and licked its lips in a mocking manner.

The barker, an ulfen strong man let out a hearty laugh. "Its seems this lass didn't have the power or passion to tame the savage beast on yonder pole."

"Perhaps your brother here will defend your honor young miss." The ulfen barker said as he pointed to Athrun and sorta looked at Athrun in that manner that made males want to prove their manliness to each other.

"We're not..." Athrun stopped himself, eh, it was better than explaining she was a changeling. The young lord nodded his head as assertively as he could and took the mallet from Luci and grasped it hard. He then paid his two coppers and stared at the pressurized metal plate and tried to psyche himself out.

He then gripped tighter and swung down with all his strength as he let out a roar of his own. And then....his swing wound up barely hitting the edge of the plate as the puck slid up one foot on the pole. His expression instantly deflated as he was met with the same result as Luci from the fake lion's head. Even his bodyguard couldn't help but snicker.
=============================================

Elizabeth/Voren-Carnival Carnie Wagons

There was not much to his relatively wide covered wagon, it looked rather lived in, with a messy bedroll and pillow on one side. There were several bottles of fancy looking wine bottles, boxes of ammo, a gun smith kit, there was a worn looking blunderbuss mounted on the inside back of the wagon. He also had some parchment pin ups of scantily clad ladies of almost all races, cliche guy stuff. Stashed in the corner were two targets stacked on each other.

[TheAmishPirate]

[Fun and Games]

Don't laugh...don't laugh...the referee is supposed to be impartial...

Melindy, with naught but a noticeable smirk, raised her stick to the changeling. "And the young Miss has won! A song of her choosing is her prize...unless either party wishes to go for double or nothing?" She expectantly raised an eyebrow at the two competitors.

[Hawkflight]

Elizabeth looked around the trailer with modest curiosity, but was disappointed to find a lack of interesting stuff, just the usual stuff you would expect. She grabbed the replacement target, and left to help set it up.

[Lycan 01]

"Victory is MINE!!" the Changeling exclaims, punching a fist into the air and flashing a toothy grin, her eyes glinting with a hint of madness.

She then twirls around and smiles coyly at Lord Althrun. "Buuuuuuut I could go for a rematch. Like she said, double or nothin' M'Loooord?" she asks, once more revealing a hint of fangs with her smirk, before quickly closing her mouth to obscure them.

[Benson]

Luci/Melindy/Athrun and his Bodyguard

"But...no one really won..." The young lord uttered out that towards the end it trailed off. He then cleared his throat. "Uhm..yes, very well, double or nothing and we actually have to hit the lion's head this time...I should have been more specific the first time, my apologies."
-------


Elizabeth

"Let's hope I remembered to hide my underwear this time," Voren grinned as he took the target from her. "Wasn't she a beauty? Albeit an old aged beauty." He said referring to the blunderbluss he no doubt new she saw.

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy took a deep breath and adopted a thoughtful, meditative stance. "As the original challenge was stated, hitting the lion's head was not part of the contest. Therefore, Miss Luci is still the winner of the first round."

"However!" She declared, holding up a finger in a "not so fast" gesture. "By issuing a second challenge for double or nothing, this renders the previous outcome null and void, as well as keeping the young Lord's honor beyond reproach. A wise decision indeed."

And then she all but dropped the referee act entirely and clapped her hands together with an eager grin. "Well then! Is it two songs against two masques, or are the stakes to be raised even higher?"

[Hawkflight]

Elizabeth

"Let's hope I remembered to hide my underwear this time," Voren grinned as he took the target from her. "Wasn't she a beauty? Albeit an old aged beauty." He said referring to the blunderbluss he no doubt new she saw.

"I'm going to assume you meant the blunderbuss," Elizabeth said wryly, helping to set up the target. "Yes, it was of fine construction. You make it?"

[Lycan 01]

Luci nods. "That seems fair, though I would be content with just one song as my reward," she remarks, a bit of confidence dripping from her words. She may be trying to psyche him out. Or she's just being playful. Probably the latter.

[Benson]

"I'm going to assume you meant the blunderbuss," Elizabeth said wryly, helping to set up the target. "Yes, it was of fine construction. You make it?"

"Naw...I don't believe in my gun making skills that well," He chuckled. "Bought her in the famous markets of Katapesh, now that was a place of wonder. According to her history, she was one of the earliest firearms hailing from the Mana Wastes." He nodded his head and crossed him arms, proud of his 'girl'.

===================================

Melindy took a deep breath and adopted a thoughtful, meditative stance. "As the original challenge was stated, hitting the lion's head was not part of the contest. Therefore, Miss Luci is still the winner of the first round."

"However!" She declared, holding up a finger in a "not so fast" gesture. "By issuing a second challenge for double or nothing, this renders the previous outcome null and void, as well as keeping the young Lord's honor beyond reproach. A wise decision indeed."

And then she all but dropped the referee act entirely and clapped her hands together with an eager grin. "Well then! Is it two songs against two masques, or are the stakes to be raised even higher?"


Luci nods. "That seems fair, though I would be content with just one song as my reward," she remarks, a bit of confidence dripping from her words. She may be trying to psyche him out. Or she's just being playful. Probably the latter.


"Alright then, double hand shake because well... you know, double the stakes," Anyways, after the handshaking, it would be Luci's up, you know what to do.

[Lycan 01]

Luci does the double handshake, pays her coins, and then takes another swing.



(Strength: [roll0])

[Hawkflight]

"Naw...I don't believe in my gun making skills that well," He chuckled. "Bought her in the famous markets of Katapesh, now that was a place of wonder. According to her history, she was one of the earliest firearms hailing from the Mana Wastes." He nodded his head and crossed him arms, proud of his 'girl'.

Liz let out a low whistle at that. "Wow, what did a relic like that cost ya?" she asked, not wanting to think of how much it must have cost.

[Mystic Muse]

"Is there some sort of problem, Gabrielle? ...Have I perhaps misspoken? I admit I am not quite familiar with the Chellexian royal decorum..."

"You've misspoken quite a bit, and it's best if we leave right now, okay?" Gabrielle says, continuing to comedically drag Shokah away. "Let's go find something fun to do." she says.

[Benson]

Athrun/Luci/Melindy/Orc Bodyguard-Umbra Carnival Midway

Both Athrun and Luci kinda suck at this, especially Athrun. Both got the same response from the Lion's head while onlookers and the barker chuckled in amusement, particularly at Athrun's suckieness.

"Eh...perhaps we should play something else? This is not boding well....perhaps even something Miss Melindy would like to play?" He sheepishly asked Luci while looking at Melindy as well.
================

Elizabeth/Voren-Umbra Carnival Carnie Wagons

"A lot of stuff.." He said sheepishly as he glanced away as he tried to busy himself with checking his gun, going over it for when it was his up in shooting the targets. "You'd be surprised what is used for trade outside of coin in Katapesh."
================

Shokah and Gabby: The Buddy Flick

And so the two continued to walk, finding themselves walking along one of the majors roads of Field Marshall Avenue which would eventually lead them to the Gold Markets.

Along the way the two would come across the sight of a a group of adults and kids jeering and booing a struggling Varisian puppeteer who seemed to trying to play out a story with multiple dolls, more than he could handle at a time. He eventually burst into tears and dropped the puppets as he ran into his covered wagon set behind his hand crafted puppet stage.

The crowds just booed some more and grumbled things about this show sucked, and what not as the crowd started to disperse.

[Hawkflight]

"Oh, I doubt that," remarked Liz. "I may not look it, due to my well-groomed fur, but I'm extremely well-travelled."

[Lycan 01]

Luci doesn't listen to Lord Althrun.

She instead throws a pair of copper coins at the game-runner, grabs the mallet, and with a feral, fang-baring howl, she slams it down on the target with the fury of a thousand angry changelings.



(Strength: [roll0])


The mallet promptly bounces right back at her, and she lets out a comedic little squeak as she throws herself backwards to avoid it. The little rogue winds up sprawled out on her back, staring at the sky in confusion. "Bwuh?"

[Trobby]

The scene before her...gripped Shokah. Seeing the sad puppets clatter to the stage, lifelessly, it spoke to her very soul that something was not right in the world. Despite the festivities, which had so far excited her in their newness and strangeness, this...simply did not seem right.

"...Gabrielle...do you know how to work puppets?"

[Mystic Muse]

Shokah and Gabby: The Buddy Flick

And so the two continued to walk, finding themselves walking along one of the majors roads of Field Marshall Avenue which would eventually lead them to the Gold Markets.

Along the way the two would come across the sight of a a group of adults and kids jeering and booing a struggling Varisian puppeteer who seemed to trying to play out a story with multiple dolls, more than he could handle at a time. He eventually burst into tears and dropped the puppets as he ran into his covered wagon set behind his hand crafted puppet stage.

The crowds just booed some more and grumbled things about this show sucked, and what not as the crowd started to disperse.

"Not really, but I'd be willing to try." Gabrielle says to Shokah. She took pity on the poor puppeteer. Those customers were being jerks, and she'd like to help him out.

[Trobby]

"Very well then. Try to follow my lead."

Shokah steps up to the puppet theater, and takes stock of her supplies. I.E., she looks at what puppets the puppeteer had.

[Benson]

"Oh, I doubt that," remarked Liz. "I may not look it, due to my well-groomed fur, but I'm extremely well-travelled."

He flashed a small smile as he found himself nodding about the well groomed fur part. "Heh...that makes two of us....Hey...ever been to Absalon, the 'city of the world' or so it likes to claim?" He asked with a lazy grin.
===================

Athrun waaah'd as he moved to grab Luci's arms from behind to steady her. "Hey...you alright?...You know...we can just go play something else...Its cool...you won already anyways the first time...technically." He said with almost pleady tone.

The ulfen barker watched the scene with interest, to him, Luci looked like a good sucker to milk the copper pieces from, so he wasn't going to let her go just yet.

"Come now little missy...you know you desire to teach this game that you are the boss here," He grinned as he picked up the mallet and held in that way that it seemed he was gonna hand it to Luci.
===================

The puppeteer puppets consisted of what looked to be a green dragon, a knight with the colors of the Nirtmathas region with its chestplate of an oak tree with a sword horizontally through it. There was also a princess and a couple of goblins and hobgoblins. The puppets were well crafted and well detailed, probably cost some good gold coin here in material.

Just then the Varisian puppeteer stepped out with his eyelids stained by his eye make up. He was of typical looking Varisian with a thick black mustache and thick black hair with a red bandana, his ears donning large gold hoop earrings. Basically he looked like the standard male gypsy, colorful with a foppish flair and a hairy chest.

"Going to complain to me that I suck?" He asked mopey-ish.

[Trobby]

Shokah speaks to the puppeteer in perfect Varissian.

"It is poor form for an audience to decry their storyteller. Perhaps we can offer our assistance in telling your tale. Tell me, what story have you been telling them?"

[Hawkflight]

Elizabeth grimaced at the mention of Absalon. "Yes, and I'm trying to forget," she muttered darkly. Then she seemed to cheer up.

"So, you gonna shoot or what?"

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy - with an undignified yelp of surprise - had to scramble out of the way to avoid getting smacked by either Changeling or mallet. Though it may have just been her armor, one might note she moved awfully slow for a halfling. Weren't the small folk supposed to be swift and clever on their feet?

Once her dignity was partially restored, she hobbled over to Luci's side and offered a hand (or shoulder, depending on the height difference) to help her up. "Up you go, Luci. Surely you aren't going to let that fellow win at his own game, are you?" In case the emphasis wasn't obvious enough, she threw in a wink on 'game' for good measure.

After all, if one was trying their best and still losing, what wiser choice than to change the rules?

[Lycan 01]

After being caught and encouraged, Luci regains her footing and composure.

For a moment, she considers going off on the barker, and trying to ruin his reputation in front of the gathered crowd.

But she decides to be the better Changeling, and simply let it go. No sense in hurting Lord Althrun's opinion of her, and it wasn't the barker's fault that she couldn't swing a mallet properly.

Dusting herself off, Luci flashes a polite (if slightly icy) smile at the man. "No thank you, sir." Simple and to the point, and with that, she turns back to Lord Althrun. "What would you like to do next?"

[Benson]

Shokah speaks to the puppeteer in perfect Varissian.

"It is poor form for an audience to decry their storyteller. Perhaps we can offer our assistance in telling your tale. Tell me, what story have you been telling them?"

"Sniffle, the classic story of true love and goblin and dragon slaying," He said in a bemoaning tone. "But alas, my assistants abandoned me in favor of running off and joining the circus....I cannot tell the story on my own as I only have two hands and too many puppets to control as the script demands. Oh woes." He woed.



Elizabeth grimaced at the mention of Absalon. "Yes, and I'm trying to forget," she muttered darkly. Then she seemed to cheer up.

"So, you gonna shoot or what?"

"Yea...I am...heh.." He said as he first prematurely shot without aiming, having had been trying to be cool and look like he didn't need to shoot. He missed and hit a tree behind the target.

"Ack...crap...uh..." He lightly cursed as he took the time and aimed this time as then his bullet hit the target true and straight in the center. He smirked and blew off the smoke from his muzzle. It was this victory that got him too confident that he tried for a tricky shot and only wound up striking the grass.

"Urr...not my best......ahem....wow..."
========================
========================

"Eh...well........its not a carnival game....but I would like to go see the fortune tellers," He said sheepishly.

[Lycan 01]

Luci smiles cheerfully, and offers her gloved hand to the young noble. "Lead the way, good sir."

[Trobby]

"Sniffle, the classic story of true love and goblin and dragon slaying," He said in a bemoaning tone. "But alas, my assistants abandoned me in favor of running off and joining the circus....I cannot tell the story on my own as I only have two hands and too many puppets to control as the script demands. Oh woes." He woed.


"I have had some experience with storytelling, and to see that this story reaches its end, I would gladly assist you in finishing the tale. As would my companion, Gabrielle"

Wait, WHAT did you just volunteer her for, Shokah?

[Hawkflight]

"Yea...I am...heh.." He said as he first prematurely shot without aiming, having had been trying to be cool and look like he didn't need to shoot. He missed and hit a tree behind the target.

"Ack...crap...uh..." He lightly cursed as he took the time and aimed this time as then his bullet hit the target true and straight in the center. He smirked and blew off the smoke from his muzzle. It was this victory that got him too confident that he tried for a tricky shot and only wound up striking the grass.

"Urr...not my best......ahem....wow..."

Elizabeth smirked as the tiefling's overconfidence got the better of him, and he missed two out of his three shots (though the third was a dead-center bullseye). She aimed down the sights of her own guns, casually firing another set of shots ...

[roll0] + 2 = 26
[roll1] + 2 = 18
[roll2] + 2 = 24
... hitting all three targets in a row. Again.

She blew the smoke from her pistols, holstering them. "Try again? And try not to let your hubris control you this time," she said playfully.

[Mystic Muse]

"I have had some experience with storytelling, and to see that this story reaches its end, I would gladly assist you in finishing the tale. As would my companion, Gabrielle"

Wait, WHAT did you just volunteer her for, Shokah?

"Well, I'm not sure how useful I'll be, but I'd be willing to give it a shot, sure." Gabrielle says in response to SHokah.

[Trobby]

"Yes, yes, now hand us our puppets, and we shall try our best to perform our part in your story." Shokah explains, letting the storytelling be on the lap of the puppeteer...for now. She has every reason to trust that his story is good at the core.

[Benson]

Luci smiles cheerfully, and offers her gloved hand to the young noble. "Lead the way, good sir."


And so Luci, Melindy, Athrun and his half orc bodyguard made their way through the carnival midway and to a tumble-down tent. A hand-painted sign outside read itself as 'The All Seeing Hajeck'. The tent itself was not too far from the zoo tent and one could catch the smell of the animals from here.

Inside the tent was filled with all sorts of mystical paraphernalia and regalia. Eyeballs in a jar, wooden carvings of palms with eyes carved in them. It smelled heavily of incense and tea leaves...intermingling with stink du animals. Behind a small wooden table stacked with odd looking tomes and many lit candles, sat a Varisian woman with her eyes closed. She was nice enough to look at though it may be a case of the heavy make up creating that illusion. She wore a red and yellow silk fortune teller's cap on her head, her mass of black curls hung out from underneath.

"Greetings.....wanderers..." She said with an outstretch hand though she kept her eyes closed still. She put it back down and began to shuffle a deck of some sort of cards in her hands.

Athrun dumbly wondered how she knew they were here as he forgot to take into account footsteps.

"Hi.." He said lamely with a goofy smile on his face. He did his best to breath through his mouth rather than nose.
=============

Shokah and Gabby

While the puppeteer was utterly surprised at the offer of help and grateful, he couldn't help but derp a little here. Ahem. He cleared his throat and looked at them warily. "Do either of you even know how to...maneuver puppets like these?"
=====================

Elizabeth


Voren stood agape an slack jawed for a moment as he quickly tried to recover. he cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He took in a deep breath and sputtered his lips a little. "Very well Miss Liz, heh....I'll try to keep it in check hahah...heh..." His fingers wriggled a little as he clutched his pistol and aimed. Blam blam blam.

His first shot was a bust, but his other two hit....with his second just barely hitting the edge of the target. Good enough! He wanly smiled.

[Trobby]

"...Not so much, no. But perhaps I can pick it up?" she suggests, giving the puppets a try, attempting to maneuver it properly

[Lycan 01]

Luci seems genuinely interested in the scene before her. She's seen a lot of shams and hoodwinks involving false fortune tellers. But she also knows that magic can be weird, so a little soothsaying isn't beyond the realm of possibility.

Rather than level judgement, she decides to just go with it. Flashing a playful smile, she looks over at Lord Althrun. "Would you like to go first?" she casually asks, before looking up at the guard and down to Melindy. "What about you two?"

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy takes in the scene with the same bemusement as the hammer-game, the children, this carnival and...well, most everything outside the realm of business. In that, she simply kept her smile silent.

As Luci looks to her, she leans heavily on her ornate, brightly colored staff, looking strangely in-place surrounded by all these fortune-teller oddities. "Nay, let him have his turn first. My fortune's bound to be a boring one, with only one grand mystery left that I'd prefer to remain a surprise. So let's have a few interesting ones before I bore you all to tears." Though self-deprecated, she doesn't seem terribly bitter. Then again, when had a halfling ever seemed bitter about anything other than the quality of common ale?

[Hawkflight]

Elizabeth

Voren stood agape an slack jawed for a moment as he quickly tried to recover. he cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. He took in a deep breath and sputtered his lips a little. "Very well Miss Liz, heh....I'll try to keep it in check hahah...heh..." His fingers wriggled a little as he clutched his pistol and aimed. Blam blam blam.

His first shot was a bust, but his other two hit....with his second just barely hitting the edge of the target. Good enough! He wanly smiled.

Liz gave a half-smile as she watched Voren shoot the targets. "Not bad," she said. "Don't feel too bad, I was trained by one of the best after all." She stepped towards the tiefling.

"Here, try moving your grip a little further forward," she said, demonstrating with her own pistol.

[Mystic Muse]

Gabrielle likewise attempts to help out with the puppets.

[Benson]

Shokah/Gabby

The puppeteer looked a little relieved at Shokah and just looked at Gabby with weariness. "How well are you two with delivering lines?...I mean well...how good are you two at acting?"
---------------------
Elizabeth

"Like I said...an off day......I can't help but be distracted with such a furry beauty in my presence," He said intentionally cheesily with a small laugh but humored her anyway with moving his grip a little further.
================

Melindy/Luci/Athrun/His half orc bodyguard

"Mmmm....very well," Hajeck said as she shuffled the deck of cards in her hands once more. "Have either of you lot ever had a Harrowing before?" She asked as she started to place the cards face down on the table. Nine cards in rows of 3's.

Athrun shook his head. "I've never even had my fortune told before." Hajeck just hummed as she traced a finger over the nine cards placed face down.

[Trobby]

"I cannot speak for my new traveling companion's experience, but I am a Shoanti Tomekeeper, and as such, I have throughly studied stories and the art of telling the ancient tales of yore."

[Lycan 01]

Luci nods. "Well, there was this one time, I had to fight these five thugs to prove I was- oh wait, wrong type of Harrowing," the Changeling says, flashing a playful little smile. "But yeah, I've had a few Harrowings. Always an interesting experience," she muses. Some better than others, but probably best not to say that and potentially piss off the fortune-teller.

[TheAmishPirate]

"A Harrowing? Heard of them, know the basic swing of them, but never had one myself." Melindy watches the cards, though more for any foul play or tricks. If one could even commit foul play at basic fortune-telling.

[Benson]

Hajeck eyed the halfing, watching for idle hands. She then hummed again and flipped the first card in the left top hand corner and then did for the remaining eight cards. The first column held The Rabbit Prince at top, The Twin in the middle, and The Tyrant at the bottom. She studied him, taking cues and rather thankful for at least a partially easy column. "Mmm...you are of nobility are you not?" She said as she ran a finger over the Rabbit Prince card though she kept her eyes on him.

"Hauh?...Yea...I am, Athrun of the Allster House," He blurted out excitedly, totally buying into this.

"Mmm, a noble of a relatively small house," She guessed as it wasn't the name of any of the important world shaking noble houses she knew of. Athrun nodded.

"Yes...and I am hoping that our adventure will help our House gain a new renown," He said.

"Ah.." She said and closed her eyes for a moment. "I see...yes, I know." She seemed to say randomly. She flipped over some cards in the second column, intentionally ignoring the other two from the first. "Let us see what the present and near future holds for our young 'prince'...." She smiled as she flipped over The Idiot. She looked at his face and raised a brow. 'Yep...he is definitely one..' She thought to herself. "I see a naivety in the soon to come, a foolish choice perhaps. I'd watch myself for those of ill manners who may try to fool you..." She tried not to chuckle.

"Well we are at a carnival....ran by Varisians...no offense..." He said to himself and tapped his chin. "What do the cards say about my future? What does they say about my expedition?" He asked enthusiastically.

Just then outside the tent there was a shrill scream and the sounds of panicking.

"Aaaah...'dragon' on the loose!" Some random lady voice shrilled out.
====================


"I cannot speak for my new traveling companion's experience, but I am a Shoanti Tomekeeper, and as such, I have throughly studied stories and the art of telling the ancient tales of yore."

The answer didn't fully satisfy him but he was in desperate need of their help. He nodded his head and held out some parchments with writing on them. "These are the scripts...you two will be playing the knight, princess and dragon, I will be narrating and controlling the goblin creatures, alright?"


<As for the scripts, I was hoping for a totally ad libbed and goofy experience>

[Trobby]

"Very well, I shall take the role of the dragon, since it is large and requires two hands. Gabrielle, you shall take the role of the Knight and Princess. Upon your cue...ah...forgive me, I haven't yet gotten your name."

[Lycan 01]

Luci's head twists towards the mouth of the tent, and she grins. "Ooooo, excitement! Mayhem and carnage! I'mma go check this out, boss! Be right back!"

And with that, the cheerful little Changeling practically skips out of the tent. The whole fortune-telling thing was a bit boring, anyway. She was hoping for some spooky light effects, at least...

[Hawkflight]

Elizabeth

"Like I said...an off day......I can't help but be distracted with such a furry beauty in my presence," He said intentionally cheesily with a small laugh but humored her anyway with moving his grip a little further.

"Well aren't you the charmer," Liz said wryly. "I---"


Just then outside the tent there was a shrill scream and the sounds of panicking.

"Aaaah...'dragon' on the loose!" Some random lady voice shrilled out.

Liz jumped, her hands darting towards her pistols as she turned to run towards the source of the scream. She glanced back to see if Voren was coming.

[Mystic Muse]

"Very well, I shall take the role of the dragon, since it is large and requires two hands. Gabrielle, you shall take the role of the Knight and Princess. Upon your cue...ah...forgive me, I haven't yet gotten your name."

I shall Endeavor to do my best." Gabrielle says, and takes the Knight and princess. "What kind of story are you looking for?" She asks the puppeteer/Narrator.

[Benson]

"Very well, I shall take the role of the dragon, since it is large and requires two hands. Gabrielle, you shall take the role of the Knight and Princess. Upon your cue...ah...forgive me, I haven't yet gotten your name."

"Forgive me, my name is Flavi Farrion." He said with a small customary bow.


I shall Endeavor to do my best." Gabrielle says, and takes the Knight and princess. "What kind of story are you looking for?" She asks the puppeteer/Narrator.

He stared blankly at Gabrielle and pointed to the scroll scripts. "This on these scrolls." He said taking her question literary.

[TheAmishPirate]

And just like that, the flighty Changeling runs off, and Melindy is faced with a decision; does she stay in the boring, likely fake fortune-teller's tent, or does she go out to protect a valuable, potential future co-worker while getting a chance to see her in action?

The better question; why was she still standing here?

"Sit tight, Lord Arthrun," she calls back as she hobbles her way after Luci. "Enjoy the rest of your fortune, and we'll have this sorted out in just a moment!" She tries to sound as confident and reassuring as possible. Partially to make a good impression, partially to keep her future paycheck-dispenser alive and kicking.

The others may note that, in spite of her haste, she still leaves no footprints behind.

[Benson]

The Carnival Grounds

Voren followed, grimacing.

Outside as people scrambled around there was...the monitor lizard...around snapping at people.

"Aaaaah...someone save my baby!" A man's voice yelled aloud, it was none other than Berthold Flavion, the owner of the traveling zoo. He looked like he was about to faint. "She's scared and confused!" He yelled out as the monitor lizard ran through some large fancy dress of an aristocratic patron as the woman screamed. The monitor lizard seemed to be headed towards the direction of the freakshow area.

<Lizzy, Luci, Melindy make a Peception Check>

Back inside the fortune teller's tent Athrun stood to leave but Hajeck quickly reached over and grabbed his wrist to his startlement. This immediately prompted his bodyguard to reach towards her back for her double axe as she bared her fangs.

Hajeck paused and released his wrist. "Forgive me....I needed you to stay a moment...tell you what the cards said to me..The words are for your ears only." She then moved her from her seat and stood up and bent over to whisper into his ears. His eyes blinked, his brow furrowed. The bodyguard narrowed her eyes.

"Mmm...very well then.." He nodded as he grabbed his bag off the ground and stood up.
=========

Athrun and his mute bodyguard emerged from the tent to join the others.

[Lycan 01]

Luci skids to a halt when she sees the large lizard. Her shoulders actually slump a bit. "Oh. Oh. Sheesh, you folks are jumpy. Wonder how they'd react to me..." the Changeling mumbles to herself, before casting a quick look around to assess the situation. "Hmmm. Music soothes the savage beast, as they say."

Luci looks down at Melindy as she catches up. "Psst. Got any musical instruments on you?"



(Perception: [roll0])

[Benson]

Shokah and Gabby do Acting

Fast forwarding a bit to where six people were drawn to the show on the account they were quite curious about this strange looking paladin with a weird growth on her forehead. But it was good enough for Flavi.

===

"Once upon a time in the distance land of Nirmanthas, there was a terrible dragon who plagued the small mining town of Skelt," Flavi narrated as he quickly turned some knobs that drew the mini stage's curtain to show a backdrop of a small mining town set in front of some mountains. He gestured for Shokah to have the dragon fly around looking menacing. "Demanding more than 3/4s of their mined gold least he burn their village to the ground." For Shokah there was a unique string to yank that would have the dragon 'breath fire' which was just shiny red paper fluttering from the dragon's mouth.

<Cue Shokah delivering the dragon's lines, whatever you want them to be>

[Trobby]

Shokah has the dragon land on the house made to represent the entire town, gesturing with its claws in a far more dignified way than one would expect from a terrible, uncivilized beast.

"I am the dragon Svlirn, I come from the highest mountains, within the deepest caverns, with the most insatiable lust for man's beauty. My demands are simple. Hand over three of every fourths share of gold, jewels and silver that every man, woman and child possesses, or from you I shall take the most beautiful woman in town, and keep her as my prize. Fail to deliver either one..."

At this, she lifted the dragon's head, and had it blow "fire" into the sky menacingly.

"And I shall burn you to the ground. None shall shine more beautifully than I in this land."

[Hawkflight]

The Carnival Grounds

Voren followed, grimacing.

Outside as people scrambled around there was...the monitor lizard...around snapping at people.

"Aaaaah...someone save my baby!" A man's voice yelled aloud, it was none other than Berthold Flavion, the owner of the traveling zoo. He looked like he was about to faint. "She's scared and confused!" He yelled out as the monitor lizard ran through some large fancy dress of an aristocratic patron as the woman screamed. The monitor lizard seemed to be headed towards the direction of the freakshow area.

Liz rushed out expecting to see an actual dragon attacking the fair ... only to find the monitor lizard from earlier. She sighed, pulling out her dragon pistol and a specific cartridge of ammo.

She really shouldn't have been surprised, she decided. It was painfully obvious, she was just too excited to realize it. She leveled the dragon pistol at the not-dragon (haha, irony), waited until it was in the open and she had a clear shot, and pulled the trigger, firing a sticky goop at the critter. Hopefully it would be stuck long enough to recapture it safely and with minimal fuss.

Using Entangling Ammo.

Attack Roll: [roll0]

[TheAmishPirate]

Melindy leans heavily on her stick after her short, hobbling sprint. "Nay, never could get the hang of them myself. I could get it's attention, if you think you could bag it once it runs over." she suggests.

(Perception: [roll0])

[Benson]

Carnival Grounds

Melindy and Elizabeth would hear the faint cry of someone yelling out "You're free! You're free now!" followed by the roaring sound of something...beastial. Unfortunately Luci for that moment was distracted when a running patron crashed into her who quickly scrambled without so much an apology.

As for the monitor lizard, it hissed and struggled against the mess that trapped it in and snapped at any near by people.

"Aaah...oh my baby..oh sweet Caroline..!" Berthold Flavion ran towards the monitor lizard who hissed and snapped at him causing Berthold to fall backwards on his rear end. He then caught sight of Elizabeth and pointed an accusing finger. "You again!"

As for Voren he caught up with Elizabeth and looked wide eye at the mess. "Uh..."

Athrun and His bodyguard stuff to come a moment later
=========

Shokah and Gabby do Acting

The younger ones in the small audience gasped at the entrance of the dragon and its proclamations.

Flavi smiled and continued on. "Unfortunately one day, the people of the town were not able to meet to the dragon's demands and so he fulfilled his terrible word..."

<cue Shokah with the dragon and Gabby with the 'princess' or rather the mayor's daughter>

[Hawkflight]

Carnival Grounds

Melindy and Elizabeth would hear the faint cry of someone yelling out "You're free! You're free now!" followed by the roaring sound of something...beastial. Unfortunately Luci for that moment was distracted when a running patron crashed into her who quickly scrambled without so much an apology.

As for the monitor lizard, it hissed and struggled against the mess that trapped it in and snapped at any near by people.

"Aaah...oh my baby..oh sweet Caroline..!" Berthold Flavion ran towards the monitor lizard who hissed and snapped at him causing Berthold to fall backwards on his rear end. He then caught sight of Elizabeth and pointed an accusing finger. "You again!"

As for Voren he caught up with Elizabeth and looked wide eye at the mess. "Uh..."

"You're welcome for catching your monitor lizard," Liz said sweetly. Well, more like trollishly. "By the way, did anyone else hear that? Cries of 'you're free' followed by some sort of bestial roaring?"