The Alraeican Tavern - Part VIII
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After Selax had gone outside with Talryn talking his ear off, Wizard was left alone to stare at Rapierian.
"Rapierian. Rapierian, I don't like that smile . . ."
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Rapierian got up and came over to sit in front of Wizard. Searching around a little, he found a piece of string and held it up in front of Wizard.
"What are you doing?" Wizard growled.
"Well, it isn't quite a little golden watch, but I'm certain that it will work!" Rapierian answered. He then began to wave the string back and forth in front of Wizard's face.
"You are getting sleepy...very sleepy...any moment now you'll fall asleep—"
At this point, Wizard abruptly that Rapierian's skeletons had sneaked up behind him and surrounded him. He started to turn—too late.
The skeletons threw several vials—and a Santa hat—at him. Some of the vials hit his robe and turned it red. One hit his beard and turned it completely white. The hat fell snugly on his head. Then, Rapierian pulled out a sign that read "Come and see Santa, kids" and put it on the table in front of Wizard.
Rapierian started to howl his mad laughter. Wizard lost his patience and dove across the table on top of Rapierian.
"You aren't acting much like jolly ol' Saint Nick," Rapierian stated in a disappointed tone as they rolled around on the floor.
Violence ensued.
Wizard attempted to telekinetically smash Rapierian with several tables, which were blocked by the necromancers bodyguards. Rapierian and his skeletons attempted to strange Wizard with the Santa hat.
After a few minutes, the other patrons in the Tavern broke the fight up, and they all returned to their original spots.
Rapierian read the sign that Mort had left and smiled as an idea came to him. He turned to several of the other patrons.
"Does anyone here have a bomb? I want to see if I can rig his seat to blow up when he comes back," he asked, although he knew that Mort might hear he didn't really care. Seeing their expressions, he hastily added, "Don't worry! He'll be fine since he's already dead. It'll add excitement to his life! He'll be thrilled!"
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For the most part, Moonshadow had been content to sit and watch, prepared to intervene should there be danger of serious harm, even though she didn't understand that latest stun. What was up with dying that man's clothes red, and who was this "Santa" fellow? But overhearing what else Rapieran planned, she knew she couldn't let such an obviously mean-spirited man go on with his actions. She stood, preparing a couple spells in the back of her mind, and approached the man.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Moonshadow remarked disapprovingly, her eyes flashing. "The hallucination stunt was funny, I grant you that, but everything else you've pulled off between then and now was either distasteful or destructive, and almost all of it was obviously meant to cause harm." She raised her hand, pointing it at each skeleton in turn until the magic holding them together faded, never taking her eyes off Rapieran. "I'd very much appreciate if you stop now, as long as I still have some patience left." At that point, the bones littering the floor were dissolving into fine dust. "I've seen and dealt with worse, and I really just want my peace for now." A slight breeze picked up again in the common room, blowing the dust out of the door. Moonshadow dropped her hand to her side, satisfied that at least the skeleton problem was dealt with, though she wasn't sure that she had gotten the message across to the human. In any case, she wasn't about to drop her guard in his presence anytime soon. "Don't think I won't stop you if you try hurting anyone else."OoC: Nothing personal Selax.
Moonshadow appreciates harmless humor, but she just doesn't find hurting others funny, and her patience is almost at an end now. She will try to stop any more harmful actions from Rapieran, and if any get directed at her, she'll retaliate. Thought someone should finally directly confront Rapieran. ^^ -
When Moonshadow turned away a purple teacup fell down infront of Rapierian. he looked up, but nobody was there. On the teacup was a tag, "If it's any consolation, here's your purple back."
In another part of the Tavern, Silverfish was trying to talk to Shi'nayne. He proffered an elegant, thimble sized goblet to her and bowing said, "I am terribly sorry for my earlier inconsiderateness, and beg for your gracious pardon."
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OoC: It will probably be Cat who confronts Rapierian. She really doesn't like him. BiC
Cat was watching the show closely, and was about to intervene when Rapierian turned Wizard's robe red, but resided when Moonshadow did instead. She kept one eye on Rapierian for any signs of trouble.
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OOC: Heh, i return early (ish)! BIC:
Talryn returned inside after the 'Santa' incident and the skeletons have been dusted, and saw Wizard getting up off of the floor. Talryn helped Wizard back to his table and sat down in scilence.
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"Good for you," Brianna endorsed Moonshadow's actions as the latter returned to her seat. "You know, it's times like this that I wish I'd paid more attention when Grandfather tried to teach me magic."
Moonshadow shrugged. "You haven't even reached your fifth decad, yet. You're scarcely out of your infancy, there's time enough if you change your mind."
Brianna laughed. "I couldn't concentrate long enough. Nothing holds my attention for long unless it's wild and free. Come to think of it, it's been too long since I spent any time in the forest. Maybe I need a holiday."
She suddenly frowned, and sniffed delicately. After a moment, she seemed to shrink out of sight below the bar. A large black panther reared up in her place, resting the soft pads of its front paws on the top of the counter. It also tested the air, with a sense of smell far more sensitive than Brianna's. Brianna morphed back to her own form, thought for a moment, and made her way to the back store room. She returned with her longbow and a quiver of arrows, which she leaned in a corner where they would be near at hand.
Moonshadow quizzically cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Something's coming," Brianna responded.
Moonshadow nodded. "Of course, you do have a kind of magic of your own," she commented.
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Obviously surprised, Shi just stared for a few moments, gaze wandering from Silverfish to the goblet and back. Then realization hit. "Oh!" She exclaimed, blushing slightly. "Um, thank you." Carefully, she took the goblet from his hand with both of hers, holding it up to look at it more closely. "Wow..." She breathed. "It's beautiful! I haven't seen anything like that since I left home, nobody here ever even thought of making some correct-size dishes and-" She gasped, blushing a little more. "I'm sorry. I'm babbling. Moonshadow says I do that much too often. Um..." She faltered, searching for words. "You're forgiven. I'm sorry I locked you in the cage, I didn't know there would be a golem! And then I couldn't get back down there without being hit and - I'm doing it again. I'm sorry. Thank you a lot!" She bowed slightly in mid-air, smiling. "Can we try it out?" She asked enthusiastically.
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Moonshadow tilted her head to the side, gazing thoughtfully at Brianna. "I hope it's nothing too nasty." She remarked. "I was hoping to get some quiet today."
Brianna blinked. "Then.. why did you come here in the first place?" She inquired, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Why indeed?" Moonshadow said, and Brianna grinned.
"Because you missed us, of course." She answered Moonshadow's rhetoric question.
The older elf rolled her eyes, but smiled back. "That must be it." She agreed softly.OoC: cache, is it possible to catch you on MSN or AIM or somesuch sometime? ^^
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Cat saw Brianna transform to panther and sniff the air, then get her bow. Her eyes widened in fear, and she edged as far as she could away from the door. Moonshadow noticed her terror.
"What's the problem? You look scared."
"It's...I have to hide!" Cat jumped back up into the rafters and pulled her cloak around her. To Moonshadow's astonished eyes, the girl vanished.
The elf focussed her magic, and thought she caught a glimpse of Cat huddled next to a beam, but it might have been imagination.
That's strong magic! Moonshadow thought, impressed. I wonder how she did that? -
Moonshadow frowned, looking thoughtfully up at the beam she thought she had seen Cat. Scanning the area underneath it, she spotted a table and chair very near to it. "Keep an eye on things from here," she told Brianna, getting up and collecting her meal and drink.
She crossed the tavern swiftly, keeping a wary eye on Rapierian, and seated herself in the far corner at the table beneath Cat's hiding place. "I don't know what's chasing you," she began quietly, her soft voice pitched to carry to the rafters, "but hiding up there isn't going to make it go away." She paused, thinking on what to say next. "I assume you overheard Brianna and me. I also assume you have an idea of what is coming. If it's chased you all the way, it's not likely to stop now... and I would like to know as much as you can tell me. At least that way, we will be prepared." She tilted her head back, trying to catch a glimpse of the frightened elf. "We can't help you very well, otherwise." -
OoC
No offense taken, Moonshadow. It's always important to keep one's characters in character, and I don't mind at all if doing so inconveniences any of my characters.Cache, I didn't have Brianna respond to Linius because I'm uncertain what she'd say.
By the way, Linius (I hope that no one else has already used this name; if so, I can change it) doesn't have any character info because he is not intended to become a really important character. I'm just using him to start off the TS, which I hope to actually start tomorrow. Today, I'm just posting a lead-in.
EDIT: Oops, forgot the Scribe was in the Tavern.
BiCRapierian abruptly came back to reality. He turned to face Moonshadow.
"Oh yeah? Don't like my sense humor, huh? Well, I'm going to—no, that won't work," he paused thoughtfully for a moment before continuing. "I'll just—no, that won't work either. Well, I could always—no, that'd would be pointless. Hmm, well, maybe I'll—no, that's useless too. I suppose there's always—no, that'd be suicidal. Hmm, well, don't worry! I'll think of something eventually..."
With that, he walked over to a table next to the wall, sat down, pulled out several books, and began to read.
Selax stepped back inside the Tavern, walked back to his seat next to Wizard, and sat down, all without seeming to notice Wizard's odd apparel. However, after a moment, he asked, "Are you feeling all right, Wizard?"
After a few minutes, the door to the Tavern opened and a small man nervously stuck his head in. Anyone who lived in Cademia would have recognized him as the head librarian at the local library and one of Cythera's leading archeologists. He entered, closing the door behind him, and walked over to Brianna.
"Excuse me, ma'am. I'm Linius, head of the Cademian library. Recently, part of a map and fragments of a manuscript came into my possession, and neither I nor any of my colleagues have been able to make any sense of it. Lindus told me that there were some here who might be able to make sense of it; he said that probably an elf called the Scribe or a man called the Wizard would be able to help me. Is either of them here?"
Brianna pointed out Wizard (who was still sitting at his table with Selax) and the Scribe (who was still sitting at his table with Sideline), and, after gawking at Wizard's Santa suit for a moment, Linius shrugged, decided to talk with him first (to get it over with), and came over. He again introduced himself and explained why he had come.
"Certainly, I'd be willing to help, and I think that my friend here would willing to as well," Wizard stated cheerfully. "May we see what you have?"
Linius carefully pulled out the fragments that he had and placed them on the table. Wizard and Selax bent over them and began to examine them carefully.
This post has been edited by Selax : 26 December 2006 - 07:25 PM
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"Of course!" Silverfish replied to Shi'nayne, smiling broadly.
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Talryn sitting nearby and hearing what Linius said, got up and peered over Wizard's shoulder.
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(OoC: Huh, festive circumstances over the holidays kept me from being on the computer for lengthy periods of time, and in the short few days I've been away I've missed a page and a half of postings. Well, I'd better catch my char up to speed then. /BiC)
Shanadar, after being rebuffed by that Rapierian fellow on grounds of 'Nobility' (which Shanadar frankly found ridiculous), he attempted to return to his seat beside Mort. Naturally, however, another patron had stolen his stool during the excitement. Breathing a short sigh of frustration, he milled about the Tavern whilst waiting for the the person to finish.
Of course, Rapierian began causing trouble again by picking on one of the Tavern's more elderly patrons (whom was apparently called 'The Wizard'). Knowing full well that he'd never get the sadistic prankster on the floor again, he waited for another patron to intervene, and one certainly did. A somewhat odd looking, but no less beautiful woman (whom the other patrons referred to a 'Moonshadow') confronted Rapierian and made perfectly clear what Shanadar had suggested to him earlier was a very real possibility (although she showed know signs of knowing this, but rather that she was put-off by his antics).
Now confident that the situation was well in hand, Shanadar was free to allocate his time to more important pursuits. Unfortunately, his stool was still taken, and Mort seemed to have been displaced by a sign. Now, that he no longer had any reason to stay, in particular, he made for the exit.
However, as he prepared to leave, Linius, the Town Librarian, came in through the door. Overhearing something about 'map fragments', and suspecting trouble, Shanadar moved closer to eavesdrop.
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Cat paused, and after a few minutes she jumped down, landing beside Moonshadow. She kept glancing fearfully at the door.
"The Hrothrim are after me." she whispered, trying to put Moonshadow between her and the door, with limited success.
"Who are the Hrothrim?" the older elf asked, perplexed.
"Well, as you can see, my species is catlike to some degree. The Hrothrim are our counterparts, doglike to some degree. We are currently at war, and if I and a few others came across a lone Hrothrim, it would die. And vice versa, but I heard them before they smelt me, and I ran. The Hrothrim's weapon of choice is their teeth, and they are maybe twice my size."
Moonshadow looked at Cat's diminutive (sp?) form, and nodded. "I can see why you are scared."
"That's why I hid in the rafters. Hrothrim can't climb well, and you can generally kick them out of the tree before they touch you. Unfortunately, I was on an open plain, and the nearest tree was some miles away. Then, suddenly, I saw the Tavern door, opened it, and here I am. They might come through the same way." -
(OoC)
@selax_bot, on Dec 27 2006, 12:40 PM, said in The Alraeican Tavern - Part VIII:
Linius doesn't have any character info because he is not intended to become a really important character. I'm just using him to start off the TS
Careful, Selax, that's how Sideline got started.
He was originally just a 'Sideline Character' used to introduce the TS 'Requiem'.Moonshadow: could be tricky, timewise, but I can fire up iChat. The last few days I've typically been online somewhere between 11:00pm and midnight, and we're exactly 12 hours apart right now - if you can get some time then, I guess we'll see.
CrazyChick: I had no solid plans in mind with my last post, I was just trying to generate some activity with a character other than Mort. If you want to do something with it, go ahead and have fun!
I'll try and pitch in where I can.Aside: I'm just wondering if this post should be rated 'PG13' :rolleyes:
(BiC)
The door to the tavern suddenly slammed open, and a rough looking individual muscled his way into the crowded interior.
"So, this is the Alraeican Tavern, is it? With all it's legendary oh-so-tough regulars. Huh, you all don't look so tough to me," the man observed. "I bet I could whip you all without breaking a sweat!"
" This was what you sensed?" Moonshadow queried Brianna.
"Hardly!" Brianna snorted back.
The man seemed to notice them at that point, and sashayed over to the only empty seat at the bar.
"Hellooo, beautiful!" he whistled expressively at Brianna. "How's about spending some time with a real man, rather than these kiddies?" He pinged Alice's hat with a finger, to emphasise the point.
"Real man? Where? I don't see him," Brianna retorted.
"Um, begging your pardon, sir..." Alice began.
"Shut up, kid, I'm talking to the lady."
"But, sir..."
"I said 'shut up'."
"But..."
"Kid, how many times do I have to say it? Now be a good little kiddie and go away."
"But that's..."
"Look, I won't tell you again!"
The man suddenly clutched at his stomach. "Uh, something's not right... Ohhh, it hurts..." He seemed to slowly swell up, as if a balloon was being blown up inside him. "Aaaargh!" he screamed, and exploded.
"... Mort's seat," Alice finished, staring at the lich now occupying his original space, so recently occupied by the annoying man. Alice plucked something off his cloak, gagged, and started looking for a bucket.
"'Icky' was right," Brianna commented, screwing up her nose in disgust.
{{ I'm back, }} Mort announced. {{ Did I miss anything? I won't ask if you missed me, 'cause I know you didn't. What's this stuff draped over the bar? Entrails!? }} Mort rushed over to join Alice at the bucket.
Rapierian was beside himself, incredibly amused by the sight of a lich with a gag reflex.
This post has been edited by cache22 : 27 December 2006 - 06:37 AM
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The Elemental Conference from an alternate Cythera, watched the happenings with interest.
"So, what do you think?" Ignae asked his cohorts.
"It is a bigger Cythera, in a way." responded UrSylph, "It seems to have more contact with the other worlds of the void."
"Its Balance is maintained through struggle." said Jhiaxus, "He'll be ever on the edge of losing his friends."
"Yes" replied Jinrai, "But that is why he won't lose them, why he will always have a place of welcome in that tavern."
"The Celebration of Renewal is coming soon, he will leave, and all of our Cythera will name him Hero. Here he will dwell, and be happy."The portal closed.
This post has been edited by Jehezekel : 10 January 2007 - 12:58 PM
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OoC* Thank you cache, I intend to do just that! And I don't think your post should be PG13. I'm 13, I had no trouble with it. *BiC
Moonshadow couldn't think of anything to say to that, so she just checked she had a spell that might work on a three metre dogman.
Cat kept on glancing at the door, and as nothing happened for a few minutes, she began to relax. A bit stupid, really, as the door promptly flew off its hinges and arced across the tavern, knocking Mort's drink over.
The thing outside had to bend over to get in, and Cat shrieked and leapt back up into the rafters.
The creature that came in saw her, and, ignoring everyone else, climbed onto a table and tried to swat her. It was followed by two more, and they all climbed on the same table, which naturally collapsed. Chaos abounded. -
OoC
Thanks for the warning, cache. I don't know if it'll happen because I don't if Linius will be in the story. By the way, the name I used for Sabinate's father was taken from your chronicle "New Horizons," if that is okay with you.By the way, CrazyChick, you posted while I was posting this, and, if I am to get a TS started in this post, I will have to deal with the creatures that have now entered the Tavern. I'll edit the manner that I do this to your satisfaction, if you wishes me to make any changes. Their deaths might be kind of fast, but, as I said, I will edit that part of this post to however you want it to go.
I intend to post the TS after this; I will add a link to the TS when I have done so.
EDIT: Here's the link.
Have fun, everyone!
BiCOne of the creatures knocked over Rapierian's table of books. Angered, Rapierian leaned over the table and grabbed the creature by the back. It began to yowl and struggle as Rapierian began to suck the life out of it. In moments, he had finished and dropped the carcass.
Selax leapt across the Tavern and with a sword that slid out of his sleeve removed the head of another creature. Brianna methodically shot the third with arrows until collapsed dead.
As Moonshadow and others attempted to calm Cat down, Selax returned to his spot next to Wizard.
As he examined the artifacts that Linius had brought, Wizard leaned over to Selax and said, "About half of the Tavern seems to be eavesdropping or trying to read over our shoulders."
"So it would seem," Selax commented. He turned to Linius and asked, "Where did you get this?"
"In the Ruins in the swamp to the south. We had Timon look at it, but even he was unfamiliar with the language, although he thought it to be some kind of Seldane language. I would've brought these things to Alaric or even the Seldane themselves, but Lindus that I try here first. Have you discovered something?"
"First, Timon is correct: it is a language of the Seldane. It was once a language used by loremasters and for writing, but it is now almost forgotten in these later years. It has been long since I last saw it," answered Wizard.
"What does it say?" Talryn asked, still leaning over Wizard's shoulder.
"Well, it's badly fragmented, and only portion seems to be intact. I'll see what can still be read," he read over the paper for a few moments. Then, he began to read out loud:
_And so the Sword was made, imbued with power of the Four Elements. It's hilt was encrusted with many gems to better handle the power that it wielded, and its razor-sharp blade glowed with all the powers of the elements. It gave its user powers from all elements and was once thought to make its user invincible.
It was not so.
Seldane—Lord of the East and father of Urdahlan the father of Sabinate—was agreed by all to be most fit to wield the weapon, since he was most noble of all elements. So Seldane took up the Sword and used it for many years after against the dead and their lord. But when he confronted the evil that threatened Mayer, city of the elements, it took him and broke him, and the Sword was lost, perhaps forever.
It was not to be, although it would have been better so, for the Sword now has become a threat to all and is perhaps now tainted.
When it was found in the ruins of the city, it was agreed by its finders that it should be kept hidden and secret. So, it was placed in a secure place and most thought it lost. However, to ensure that it could be found if it should ever be needed again, its protectors left behind a series of clues that would lead to it. The first clue was a map that lead to the second clue, which would then lead to the third. This series would continue until the Sword was found..._
"That is all that can be read. The rest is unsalvageable," finished Wizard.
"Is it authentic?" someone asked.
"Beyond any doubt," Linius answered, still somewhat dazed from what he had just heard.
"Shouldn't an expedition be made to find this Sword?" someone else asked. "If it's such a threat, it should be taken to Alaric where it will be secure."
"Perhaps it is better left hidden," argued another.
"Perhaps so, but, now that half of the people in here have heard about it, knowledge of it will soon become common. We should find it before someone with nefarious motives does," Rapierian spoke up.
"Someone like you?" another patron answered snidely.
"Enough!" Wizard said, preventing a fight. "Much as I hate to agree with that nuisance, he is right in this case: we must find this weapon before it falls into the wrong hands. Linius, may we take the map?"
"Certainly, but where will you start?" the librarian asked, handing the map to Wizard.
"I think that the map leads to some point in the cave system north of the swamps. We should start there," answered Wizard. "Well, I think that we should leave as soon as possible. All of you who want to come on this trip meet me and Selax outside the Tavern in one hour. Anyone who can't be there but wants to come should be able to catch up with us on the way, so let's all go get ready."
With that, everyone who wanted to go on the quest headed off to get ready.
This post has been edited by Selax : 27 December 2006 - 05:05 PM
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Shanadar listened intently to every word the wise old mage-like figure described in his translation. He had little interest in such historical matters, but the threat to order that the sword obviously represented certainly did. Anything that would damage the status quo in 'his' city simply would not do, and with more than a few unsavory types also listening in it was imperative to retrieve, or even destroy, the sword before it fell into the wrong hands.
In a twist of irony, it was that unpleasant Rapierian fellow who suggested such. Another patron took the words right out of Shanadar's mouth when they not so subtly suggested that Rapierian was the sort the sword needed to be kept from. And finally, the old man who translated the parchment, whom Rapierian had mercilessly persecuted earlier, begrudgingly agreed with the prankster's logic.
In no time, the beginnings of a party was forming with the intent purpose of retrieving the ancient elemental blade, and Rapierian was joining.
Shanadar, knowing he'd need to join if only to keep an eye on that brat, resolved to prepare his equipment. First, however, he went to check on Mort again.
When he reached the counter, he found that his stool was still taken, but more importantly Mort had returned from wherever he was and the sign that had displaced him was nowhere in sight. Somewhat relieved, he slowly made his way next to Mort, although he had to stand.
"Ah, there you are, friend." Shanadar said in greeting to Mort, "I'm heading off--there's some sort of artifact that bound to cause trouble, and trouble is already preparing to obtain it himself" he continued, gesturing to Rapierian. "You can come with if you want, but in case you want to stay..." Shanadar fished out a few coins and gently tossed them in front of Mort, "...drinks are on me."
And with that, he left the Tavern and headed towards the Headquarters of the Ratcatcher's Guild. When he arrived, he called in a few old, since unpaid favors with Eteocles and in exchange procured for himself a shovel and a pair of bombs. Returning to the Tavern, he made his way to the still-forming party and presented himself to join.