[Pathfinder] DSP Boogaloo: The Hunt for Prince Ritalus.

[malonkey1]

The King, Old King Vext, long-beleaguered ruler of the land of Lump, has raised a call for aid. His son of 12 years, Prince Ritalus, has for the 8th time, has been found absent from his room one morning. He first called Agatha Cromwell, Wrestler of Dragons, but she returned the call, citing that she was busy seeking a pair of black dragon twins menacing the kingdom of Zellius; He next called the Warsingers Three, whose Dirge ended the onslaaght of the mad wizard Nergulax, but they too refused, claiming they were having their eyebrows bleached; third, the king called Blackwell, slayer of the Demon Lord Steven, and founder of the Guild of Battlemagi. None of his lights were on, and he refused to answer the door, and must not have been home, although we swear we saw him through the window a second ago. Oh well. All the great heroes of the realm seemed to be busy or out of reach to find the chronically missing prince, as King Vext made his way down the list, to you, brave milquetoasts. Can you save the young prince?

You six find yourselves standing in the court of King Vext, having answered his summons. The reasons each have you answered the summons may vary, but you are all here, and are all awaiting instructions from the king. The King himself sits on his throne before you, a tall, imposing figure, prematurely aged and entirely bald. He sits up as you all enter the room.

"Oh, good. You're here," He says, letting out a small sigh of relief, "Alright, before we begin, I must know your names."

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"You know who I am. Before we proceed, I want to know if it was you who kidnapped the prince... again." The first to speak is a beautiful, white-haired woman, sporting a fashionable perm-ponytail combo. She is wearing a red outfit befitting of a knight, including a sash with her family crest: a suave, plumed hat above two feathers. Atop her head is one such hat.

[Vhaidara]

Mixevas. Soldier of fortune.

[malonkey1]

"Hello, Dame. I'll play off that remark as an ill-thought jest," The King replied to Dame Pimpington from beaneath a raised eyebrow. "And well met...Mister? Mixevas." King Vext tread carefully around the question of the reptilian's gender.

[squiggit]

Black leather armor covered the Dervish from neck to toe. A pair of short iron swords strapped across his back. Of course, his relatively slight frame probably made it look a bit less badass than he intended it to. "Chosen of-... Er. Neil. That is. Sir" He stops himself short, but puffs his chest out and straightens regardless when the King gets near. "Your prince will be returned to you and the rogues who've stolen him away will be brought to justice before my blade."

[Vhaidara]

Mixevas just looks at the king, providing no clarification.

[PsyBomb]

Rafe was having a bit of a hard time in the King's Hall. It seemed like everywhere he was, so too were at least two guards keeping him from taking a candlestick, statuette, or golden spork. He looked at the king when he heard the question.

"The name is Rafe E Kin, at your service"

His grin was a bit more nervous than it should have been. The brown-furred face furrows a bit.

"Begging your pardon, though, but the gentleman in the plate mail with the bite mark on his left ear knew me by name when he knocked down my door at the inn. Thought you knew our names. Not apologizing for the bite mark"

[Axebird]

An armored woman with light red skin and a small pair of blunted horns steps forward. "I am Temitia, defender of the weak and champion of the defenseless!" She announces with a dramatic fist pump, her sinuous tail whipping around her legs. "Uh, he's pretty weak and defenseless, right?" She brings her arm down slowly, looking somewhat sheepish. "I mean, lost eight times, he's got to be."

[malonkey1]

"Well, to be honest, Rafiki, was it?" The King begins sheepishly, "You're here because I told my spymaster 'find some people who know which end to hold a sword at.' It has been trying to find any help, to say the least."

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

Vamp adresses Tamitia."A pleasure. It's hard to explain, but I assure you it's no fault on the prince's fault." The Dame gives a wry smile. "This quest is well suited for a knight-errant such as myself. When do we depart."

[malonkey1]

"While, Dame, it's good to see you so enthusiastic, I should point out that you are a knight in title only," The King grunts. "You've yet to earn your father's accolades. Needless to say, my son is, yet again, missing. He disappears fairly often, by most standards, but our Spymaster, Lord 'N' has yet to be able to find him" He nods to a slender, mustachioed man at hi right, "As best we know, he's gone west, toward the foothills. You will all be compensated for your services, and you will be furnished with a Hireling to aid you in your search," He explains, motioning to the hireling in question, who slowly approaches you. "I would offer more aid, but most of my army is tied up in campaigns to the South."

The Hireling himself is a man of unassuming height, with features so plain and forgettable that you couldn't possibly mistake them for anybody else's. He bows briefly, before intoning in a nasal voice, apparently reading his hand, "Greetings brave adventurers, I am your loyal Hireling, and I am here to aid you on your quest."

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

She shutters slightly at the mention of her father, but otherwise maintains her composure.

[Kymme]

Calliope Everlost

Calliope had been silent since the King first began to speak. She hadn't really answered his summons, per say; rather, she had been in the vicinity of the castle walls when his guards went out to retrieve the last remaining heroes. Calliope had asked to join them on their valiant quest, and offered no resistance when they grabbed her by the arms and carried her into the keep.

Her bright eyes dart around beneath her hood, scamming the room's other occupants. An absolutely gorgeous woman clad in red (~hero material, maybe?~), a scaly warrior (~ten copper says he's got a dark and mysterious past~), a young, blue haired swordsman (~on second thought, he seems like the hero~), a golden-eyed monkey man (~HE'S SO FLUFFY~), and lastly, a confident looking demoness (~a foil for the hat lady, methinks~). An interesting lot, to be sure.

She glances up and the king (~a primary quest-giver, fo sho~) and waves to him. Hi, Mister Kinglyness! I'm Calliope, the Narrator!

[malonkey1]

The King, Lord "N", and the Hireling all turn to look at Calliope. They stand silently for a moment.

The Hireling finally speaks up, "Hey now, we don't have the budget to keep fixing that wall, eh?"

[Kymme]

Calliope takes off her hood, revealing her short black pixie cut and wide pink eyes. She beams happily at the King, Spymaster, and Hireling, perfectly silent and still, like an adorable little statue.

[Axebird]

Temitia

Temitia beams and looks around at her wonderful new companions, her smile nearly blinding. "I'm glad to meet you all. I'm sure our, uh... sudden! Our sudden, unexpected adventure will go flawlessly, and Prince Ritalus will be returned unharmed!"

[malonkey1]

"I hope so as well," His Majesty replied, with the sort of bemusement, trepidation, and exasperation of a parent who has just sent his child off to buy something at the market.

"You and your Hireling may leave as soon as you are ready."

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

Vamp bows to the king. "Then we shall depart!" She bows to Lord 'N.' "Milord." She turns around, flourishing her mantle, and walks briskly to the exit.

[Axebird]

Temitia

"Excellent. To adventure!" Temitia cheers again and turns about, following after Vamp.

[squiggit]

Glances around the room. A mysterious 'knight errant', a talking monkey, a snake, a demon and narrator? Calliope must mean that they're a noble bard and chronicler meant to sing songs of his accolades. The rest would make adequate, if unusual, squires for his quest.

He quietly he bets ten silver that Lord N is the culprit. You can't not suspect someone whose last name is only a single letter. He probably didn't give his real name because the N stood for Nefarious. Plus he's an advisor! and the scheming advisor is always villainous, or so the stories told him.

So he gave N a long, suspicious glare, perhaps the villain would crack under the intensity of the hero's knowing gaze. When that didn't work he nodded along with the Knight's assessment "It shan't take long to return with your prince. Your spymaster chose well in selecting me for this endeavor". The spymaster's selection would be his undoing! He'd then turn and follow Dame Pimpington... no, not follow, simply letting the Lady walk ahead... out of the keep.

Of course, selected in this case meant a guard pointing at him and saying "Hey you with the sword, want to save the prince?"... but he liked to imagine it was a personal call to arms.

[malonkey1]

The soldier turns to Neil and snorts in derision. "Not for all the gold in Lump, boy-o."

[Vhaidara]

Mixevas turns to Lord N.
Ssso, where wasss the lassst place the kid wasss ssseen?

[malonkey1]

He replies in a deep, derisive voice, "The boy was last seen in his bed last night. I don't hold out much hope for you, but the King insists on sending you blundering sword-swingers after him. I suppose once you get yourselves killed in a bugbear's den or something, my men will drag your corpses home."

[Kymme]

Calliope turns to face Lord "N". Oh, you don't need to worry finding them in any sort of den. These are the heroes! They'll rescue the prince, and bring him back all safe and sound! I'll make sure of it. She places her left hand over her chest in some sort of personal salute. It's my job, after all.

Then she turns and follows her Protagonists, skipping as she goes.

[PsyBomb]

Rafe

The Vanara took the exit of the others to mean he should as well. To be fair, he only even thought about swiping hald the silverware at his setting. The rest of it was on reflex.

[malonkey1]

The Hireling shrugs, and glumly notes, "I guess I'd better go with them," before following, sarcastically grumbling about how great his job is.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

Once she's is out of the castle, Vamp sighs and slouches her shoulders. "'Knight-in-name-only' my well-kept posterior..." she mumbles. "N's as gracious as ever... Bastards probably put me on this team as a joke... "

She turns on her heel and faces the party. "Listen up! I have to fetch some things from my place and to bid farewell to my sister. You're welcome to join me. For those who will not be accompanying me, we should arrange a setting for us to rendezvous at before we depart. Any questions?"

[malonkey1]

"What are you all planning on calling me?" The Hireling raised his hand briefly. "People are supposed to give me some sort of name in this sort of thing. Hireling tradition or somesuch."

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"Bait. Remember that the distance from your master's reach will soon be greater than the distance between Heaven and Earth." She gives a wry smile, which fails to tarnish her comeliness. The servants are never to be trusted, and their masters are certainly worse. What good is a man who will not have things done by his own hand?

[malonkey1]

Bait takes a single, silent step away from you. He is now looking at you like a goldfish looks at a shark that's also a fisherman. A dynamite fisherman.

[squiggit]

He peers at Dame Pimpington. His attitude is quickly souring toward the woman. Did she think she was the leader or something?
"Well, we have absolutely no clues at all. So I might as well escort you home 'Knight'" he said with a little shrug. In the stories the hero was told where the dragon was and sent to slay them! He was a hero, not a damn detective.

He glances Hireling's way with a raised bro after regarding the name "Don't people usually... have their own names?". Another shrug

[Kymme]

Calliope raises her hand, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Miss. Miss. Miss. Her hand waves from side to side. I have a question.

[malonkey1]

"Well, yeah, but we're not supposed to use it, because the guild leaders feel it takes attention away from the 'heroes'. 'To Serve Quietly and With Dignity,' they say. I think it's because Scribes wanted to save money on ink, personally." Bait explains, rolling his eyes as he recites the credo of the Hireling. He cautiously follows Pimpington.

[Axebird]

Temitia

"None at all, Miss Pimpington. I have to tell the girls at the Tarnished Heart I won't be home tonight. They'll think I got lost again, see, and I wouldn't want them to worry about me when I'm off heroing!" She grins again, obviously excited. "We can meet wherever you like, I won't be long. Then we can head out and comb the foothills."

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

Her eyes narrow at the word "knight." "Very well. The Tarnished Heart sounds like a serviceable meeting place, if no one objects. After we reconvene, we can consult my Travelogue for information. Maybe one of my fellow travelers spotted him." She spots Calliope's hand. "Yes? What is it? Before your hands falls off." She smiles warmly.

[Kymme]

Calliope grins from ear to ear. Well, actually, this is a question for everybody! She raises her voice on the last word to catch her Protagonists' attention.

Um... uh... She flips her hood over her head and rubs her knuckles together, unsure of how to proceed. Do you guys want to join my story? You'd be, like, the heroes; I'd be the Narrator, so it would be my job to keep you all safe.

Is that okay?

[PsyBomb]

Rafe

"I have everything I own on me, no need to prepare. I can follow you to the house, Dame Pimpington"

Rafe had a distinct sense of urgency about him, one confirmed by a muffled clink of something metal against his dagger. He looked at Calliope.

"That actually sounds like fun, actually. Nice change having someone trying to keep me alive, anyway." He grins, showing lots of teeth and pointed canines

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"That sounds like a grand idea. I am a bit of a writer, myself." She beams at Calliope.

Vamp's entourage arrives at the Pimpington. Being a wannabe knight-errant doesn't seem to pay well, so the Dame still lives with her was. Yeesh, how old is she supposed to be?

[Axebird]

"Sure! It's hard to be a proper hero without someone keeping the story straight, after all."

[malonkey1]

"I suppose you won't be including the old Hireling then?" Bait grumbled, "No, it's fine. Nobody cares about ol' Bait, eh?"

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"Nonsense! You can open the door!" she says jovially. She then mutters "Good luck," and puts her hands on her hips.

[Vhaidara]

I am alright with the name of Bait. We should get to work then.

[PsyBomb]

"Welcome to the fun, Bait" Rafe adds cheerfully

[malonkey1]

Bait sighs an exasperated sigh that he has quite obviously made before and opens the door.

If you are familiar with the exploits of Zapp Brannigan and Kif Kroker, you know the one.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

Vamp breaths a sigh of relief as nothing happens to Bait. Well, nothing other than the butler attending to him. She walks into the lobby, which is decorated with drapes sporting the family crest. She cautiously looks around, and nearly jumps as she sees something.

A statue. Well, at least you think it's a statue of man wearing a purple robe and a wide hat. His hand rests on an ornate, or gaudy, cane. His grin is wide to the point of being threatening. His eyes are obscured a by a set of shades. All the while, he waits for everyone to file in...

Oh, and a woman similiar to the Dame walks in from one of the side rooms to give a friendly wave to her.

[malonkey1]

At that moment, after everyone has entered, the butler vanishes into thin air, and the house flares up into an inferno (which produces no heat). The room is filled with a deep, booming baritone which shouts with the most excited tone, "WELCOME TO CHEZ PIMPINGTON!!", finishing with a hearty chuckle, as the somewhat garishly-dressed statue steps down from his pedestal and quickly doubles in size. He kneels down, crouching to bring his eye level down to his guests', as the young woman waits for him to finish. The flames die down as the now-massive man waits for his visitors to speak. "Now what can I, the great Pimpington! do for you?"

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

Vamp is noplussed. She's see this **** a hundred times, and her father's humor is lost on her. "I'm just going to grab some of my things from my room..." She ducks into on of the many doors, but quickly peeks her head out. "Have fun with the guests." It sounds like she said guests, but it feels like she said bait.

[malonkey1]

"Oh, fuff to her," Sir Pimpington huffed like a thwarted child, "She's just annoyed because I'm the fun one."

He is rapidly returning to his former size.

"So why, pray tell, is my daughter travelling with such," He steps behind Rafe and Calliope, "ahem, handsome specimens?" He places a hand firmly and each of their backsides with a grin that implies that he's having more fun than appropriate for his age.

The young lady clears her throat, "I'm sure she has her reasons, Daddy. Try not to tease her too much. You know how she gets."

"Oh, yes, right, Harvest Moon."

[Kymme]

Callie grins openly as, one by one, the Protagonists accept her request. Then it's settled! She exclaims, putting both her hands over her heart. Each of the heroes feels a warm, exited presence move through their bodies for a brief second.

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

Calliope smiles sheepishly at the Dame's father, taking a half step forward and turning to face him. She has to crane her neck to meet his eyes, and does so instinctively.

Hi! My name's Calliope Everlost. I'm the Narrator of this story. My Protagonists, she indicates the party with a wave of her hand, are on a quest to find a missing prince.

Calliope has added the entire party (with the exception of Bait) to her Collective.

[malonkey1]

"The Prince?" the mage says, raising his eyebrows, "Oh, you poor sots. Wasting your time with that."

Sir Pimpington the stepped forward and spun around with a dramatic flourish of his arms, his robe sleeves catching the air as he does so.

"Couldn't the king have just dragged in a few of the dregs for that?"

[Vhaidara]

Mix shrugs.
I sssupossse, but the job paysss well.

[PsyBomb]

Rafe jumped a bit at the display. He quite rapidly climbed the wall after feeling the male hand on his rump.

From the ceiling: I don't remember anything about pay...

[squiggit]

Neil frowns at the travelogue in his own bag at Pimpington's mention of her own "Maybe I shouldn't have traded away golden lion" He says with an exasperated sigh. Ah well!

He's a little late getting to Casa De Pimpington as a result of musing over such trivialities. "Pay or not, we've been tasked with saving the prince. It's a decent enough start really".

[malonkey1]

"Yes, I suppose everybody starts somewhere, my little fish dumpling," Pimpington mused, stroking his chin and looking all too interested in the party. He then turns to a window, and begins thinking aloud, "Why I remember my first adventure. I was just an apprentice, travelling with a band of orcs who only hired me because I could spell the name of their troupe. 'The Fighting Turnips' they were. I'm still a proud Turnip myself, and if any of them were still alive, I'd gladly help them out of a bind!"

He then turns back to the party, and opens his robe to expose his chest, which bears upon it an ornate turnip medallion, hanging from a leather thong.

[squiggit]

It takes an extraordinary amount of willpower to avoid any sort of outburst at that epithet. "Most heroes start cleaning rats out of sewers. Saving royalty is a noble endeavor." He protests. A prince! Heir to the throne! Sure he's been lost a lot. Sure there have been rumors about the king renaming Thursday 'Kidnapday'. But saving the fair royal from the clutches of evil was classic heroism! Classic! Sure, their enemy was probably more likely bandits or bad directions than a dragon, and he wasn't sure how ritalus looked in a dress, but the principle of it was the same!

"And fear not m'lord. I will make sure no harm befalls your fair daughter."

Neil hopes very sincerely if they become a band of adventurers that they get a better name than Turnip.

[malonkey1]

"Hmph," the Knight-Mage snorts bemusedly, "I'm more worried that she'll strangle the royal brat before he gets home."

Sir Pimpington then waves theatrically, as a set of floating trays drift into the room, laden with snacks.

"Now, it's snacktime! Who shall be the first to feed me?" He waggles his eyebrows suggestively at Neil, "You seem like a fun one."

[PsyBomb]

Never one to refuse food, Rafe immediately follows Sir Pimpington. Still nervous about the butt-slap, though, he does so along the higher walls.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"...uncouth," the Dame mumbles. She walks back into the room. While she was gathering her things, she had gone through an outfit change. She now wears an outfit more appropriate for adventuring, include form fitting leather armor and a new sash. Someone applied new lipstick, too.

"Perrot, I'm afraid it will be some time before I'll be able to return. I'll write you letters, as per usual." She gives her twin a warm smile.

[malonkey1]

Perrot nods and smiles in return. "I look forward to your letters."

Sir Pimpington, swallowing a mouthful of spiced crackers, also turns to Vamp. "Just remember not to accept food from strangers!"

They both wave the party off.

[Kymme]

Don't mind if I do, Callie chirps. I haven't eaten in weeks! But narrators don't really need to eat, so it's okay.

Calliope plucks a cracker from one of the floating trays, tossing it into her mouth and eating it with a quick gulp. Her face begins to redden immediately and the short girl finds herself for want of a class of water. Or milk. Milk would be nice.

As the Protagonists exit the manor, Callie dashes forward to walk beside Vamp. I like you're dad. He's fun.

[squiggit]

"Thank you for your.. uh.. graciousness Lord Pimpington" He's a bit confused by the abruptness. One second asking for snacks and the next it's goodbye. He wasn't going to argue it though. Pimpington gave him more bad vibes than even Lord N.

He stuffs his hands in his pockets and slips out the door with the others

"Fun? I guess that's one way to put it"

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"Indeed... excuse me one moment." Vamp ducks behind some shrubbery. A retching sound can be heard. She returns shortly. "That was him being tame. I think I got away with little insult or injury, unlike my last birthday."

[PsyBomb]

"That was RESTRAINED in the Pimpington scale of things? I thought that I was the monkey here..."

Rafe was very glad to be out of there. Normally, enclosed spaces that don't include the word "jail" don't make him particularly nervous. He would have to add "Sir Pimpington" to that list of descriptors.

So... anyone have any idea where these guys who have the prince actually are? I can try to get some info if we seriously have no clue, but no guarantees.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"We can take a moment to consult the 'Logues once we get to the Tarnished Heart. Hopefully it will have a more agreeable atmosphere." She gives a heavy sigh.

[Vhaidara]

Mix follows along quietly. He seems to do that.

[squiggit]

"To the Tarnished Heart!" He agrees, heading down the road at a brisk pace until they reach the establishment. When he gets there he holds the door open for the rest of the troupe, then takes a seat in the back, pulling his Travelogue and writing kit out of his bag.

[PsyBomb]

"What is this 'logues' you are talking about? Never heard of it."

Rafe seems genuinely curious.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

Vamp pulls out a dusty tome. "This is a Walker's Travelogue. I'm a member of the Wayward Path. We use these 'Logues to record our travels and communicate with each other. It was the thing I was most interesting in retrieving..." She flips through the pages idly. "I'm glad I get to go on another journey. I hope I will have something interesting to contribute."

[Kymme]

Pshaw. Callie waves her arm downwards in an exaggerated motion. Who needs books when you have me! I've got a good memory, and I'm good at noticing the small details.

She points to herself. I'm like a living storybook! That also plays the flute, and stuff.

Then the petite girl steps inside the Tarnished Heart, disappearing from sight.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

She looks slightly crestfallen. The feathers in her hat droop and her shoulders slump. "B-but I like writing my stories..." D:

[Kymme]

Oh no! Callie covers her mouth with her hands in all-too-real shock. I didn't mean that. D=

I don't write the stories, I just tell them later. You can, um... you can write all you want! ...if that's okay with you.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"Really?! My father would hate this! Look!" She flips to a page in her 'Logue. A crude drawing of a woman is show.

It's signed "Your loving father, Sir Pimpington."

"I'm so happy," she says. "Now, what's this utter cesspool I've stepped in?"

[squiggit]

"It'll be interesting to compare stories after this is all over Knight... seeing how we both kinda... have these" He shrugs "As for where we are. Welcome to the Tarnished Heart. A more wretched hive of-" He clears his throat "'scuse me. It's... uh. Well not the nicest place I suppose." He looks around the dingy bar with a sigh, then goes back to his own travelogue.

[PsyBomb]

Rafe grins a bit. THIS is finally something he's familiar with.

The Tarnished Heart's a half-decent place, if you can ignore the ambeance. Beer's decent, food is cheap with good servings, and the bartender usually doesn't ask TOO many questions. Just make sure you can pay up promptly when they ask. Speaking of, I think I'll go get one of those beers I was talking about.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"Beer, huh?" Vamp gives a disapproving look. "They have something for a more refined palate, I hope..."

[PsyBomb]

Rafe laughs heartily.

"'Refined'? Lady, did you look at the sign outside? Closest thing to REFINED they have here is the alcohol that got distilled twice"

[Axebird]

Temitia

Temitia's perpetual, toothy grin sees a resurgence as she spots her new companions. She approaches their table, a dirty-but-barely-washed-enough mug in each hand and a third gripped by her tail and held at her waist, spilling small amounts of precious booze with each eager step.

"Hey!" She exclaims happily, "Glad you all made it! Might as well celebrate a little before we start work, huh?"

She unceremoniously drops the mugs in front of the nearest folk who haven't been supplied with alcohol yet, before dropping into an open chair. She turns and glances at the bar, spotting another red skinned woman happily and imprecisely cleaning a mug while chatting up some bar flies.

"Looks like Tess is running the place right now. Maybe I can get you guys some free drinks, huh?"

[Kymme]

Calliope brightens at Temitia's approach, then shrinks back when the crimson-skinned woman slams a mug of hard ale down in front of her.

Callie's face retreats into her hood like a turtle's head and she prods the frothing mug with a thin finger.

Thanks, but... I don't really drink, she mumbles, gingerly nudging the ale towards Neil. Sorry, she says, addressing both Niel and Temitia.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

The Dame takes a step back to avoid beer pisswater getting splashed on her. "Do you have something a little more appropriate for someone of my stature?" She's regressed into a more arrogant attitude.

[Axebird]

Temitia

"It's fine, not everyone has to like strong drinks," Temitia says cheerfully to Calliope.

"Uh... I guess," she says, tapping her chin with an index finger, "Probably! Maybe some wine in a box in the back. People usually just want the ale or beer, though."

[malonkey1]

"You won't hear complaints from me. Last time I got a free beer, it turned out to be enchanted mud." Bait enthusiastically nods at the idea of drinking actual beer.

"You're not gonna give me mud, are you?"

[squiggit]

"I don't think this place can afford mud, Bait" he murmurs after sniffing his own drink, going back to his book without taking a sip.

[Axebird]

Temitia

"Hey, come on. That's not fair." Temitia's grin falls into a slight frown. "Tess and Karra work really hard."

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"Yes... clearly is this a sign of the growing disparity of wealth under the king's rule. Perhaps the owners wish to apologize personally?" It's hard to tell if she's being sincere. Vamp isn't in a particularly good mood. "I think I'll just check the Travelogue for any information on the prince so we can be on our way."

She opens the books and concentrates on her query concerning Prince Ritalus.

[PsyBomb]

"Temita, there ya go!" Rafe calls excitedly as the beers arrive. "I was just getting thirsty, too! Let me help you with one of those"

He reaches over to rescue the stein in the precarious tail grip with a firm one of his own

[Vhaidara]

Mix simply watches the others silently. Alcohol. It doesn't work right on reptiles.

[Axebird]

Temitia

Temitia flinches slightly as Rafe's tail claims the mug from hers, but doesn't drop it.

"Ah! Uh, help yourself." She coughs and turns away slightly, her smile returning. "So, what's with the travel-thingy? How's it going to help us find the prince?" Temitia asks Vamp.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"I'm trying to use it to contact other members of my group. We can communicate through these books. However, none have answered yet. It's quite odd, actually. Usually a lady such as myself receives a swift response." She purses her lips.

[malonkey1]

As if on command, the book in Vamp's hand begins to buzz quietly.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"Oh, here we are." She answers the book. "You know anything about who I am looking for?"

[malonkey1]

"Ehhhhh, depends. Who're y'lookin' for?" The book replies, taking on a lazy-sounding pattern of speech.

[squiggit]

Of course HER book would buzz and not his. He sighs and plops his boots up on the table, slouching and stuffing his things back into his bag to listen in on her conversation, sighing wordlessly.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

She gives a grin that reminds you of her father. "Prince Ritalus. Blonde... young. Has anyone been bragging abotu kidnapping a royal lately?"

[malonkey1]

"Ehhhhh, Nope." The book replies, remaining silent for a few seconds. It begins to hem and haw for a minute, before continuing with "Nehhh, wait, wait, think I heard somethin' 'bout a kid with nice clothes wand'rin' 'round in Firston."

[squiggit]

Neil leans closer to the book "Is he speaking common? I can't tell. Sounds like Orcish to me...".

[PsyBomb]

Rafe

"Firston? How far away is that?" Rafe asked. He was thinking hard, though... was the place already a claimed Theive's Guild territory?

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

Vamp pulls her book away from the shoulder surfers. "Thank you for your help!"

[squiggit]

The sylph rolls to his feet and smooths his tunic "Well that certainly isn't much of a lead, but it's better than nothing. Come, we should go see if this lead bears any fruit."

[Kymme]

Callie leaps to her feet, doing a little dance before setting off towards the door.

Come, my brave Protagonists! There is adventure to be had and fun to be shared!

She stops outside and glances around. Flipping up her hood, she turns her reddening face towards her companions. Um... which way is Firston?

[Axebird]

Temitia

The tiefling finds herself chuckling at the scene as people reposition themselves to better access Ms. Pimpington's tavelogue. "I guess we've got a lead now. Excuse me for a moment, I've gotta say bye."

Temitia stands up and almost skips to the bar, waving enthusiastically at Tess. "Hey Tess! I'm going on an adventure for the king! Can you let Karra know I won't be back and not to worry about me?"

[squiggit]

"This way, fair Callie. Now, we have a fair damsel to rescue". He makes sure his cloak flutters just the right way as he opens the door and steps outside with a spring in his step.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"... That's an unfortunate choice of words, but we must away." She snaps the book shut in one hand in a dramatic manner.

[PsyBomb]

Rafe follows quietly for once. He remembered that he "forgot" to pay last time he came, and was hoping that the proprietors... and Temita... wouldn't realize it before they got clear.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

Vamp Pimpington grabs a some rations from a nearby stall, as well as a sleeping bag.
So I don't forget to record that.
She suddenly does a heel turn and addresses her party. "So, we head to the town, ask a few questions, and get our next lead on the Prince. Any questions, my humble comrades?"

[PsyBomb]

Rafe

"None here, other than where you got that 'humble' part from"

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"A week from now we'll return the prince and be deemed heroes. You guys should have heroic traits. Ng knows you lack any others..." She mutters the last bit. "Anyway, you will now be humble. As your leader I will shoulder the burden of the fame. Such is the curse of the magnanimous."

[Kymme]

Calliope skips past Vamp with an audacious grin on her face.

You might lead the heroes, she chirps in a sing-song voice, but I'm the Narrator! So follow me, my fair Protagonists!

~And so, the heroes set off! The Dame, their intrepid leader! Temitia, their charismatic guide! Neil, their valiant guardian! Mixevas (I hope I'm pronouncing that right...), their mysterious soldier! Rafe, their dashing scoundrel! And of course, their humble manservant, Bait! Who knew where the winds of adventure would take them now? Did it really matter? Probably not!~

[squiggit]

"I'd rather stick with the storyteller than a delusioned non-knight, nevermind that I'm the only one qualified to direct an expedition such as this" He huffs, and pokes at Callie's side "Do not forget, fair narrator, that you are a part of this adventure as well. Some may call it vain to write stories about oneself but... well I'm the star of every story I've ever written and it hasn't led me astray!".

He makes a point to walk right past Dame Pimpington and down the road toward Firston "Now instead of quibbling like children over who gets to go first, let us continue on and find the princess. Real do not stand around in the dirt arguing! They take action!".

[malonkey1]

Bait nods and sets down his half-finished beer, ready to follow.

[Snowbluff]

Vamp Pimpington

"Listen to the narrator, companion. It claims I am the leader." She gives a warm smile and continues down the road.