Let's go find a dragon

[Knight of Iron she/they]

Just now, JesterLavorre said:

“That’s an overstatement. I helped, but not singlehandedly…” Ara’s gaze hardened for a moment, looking at no point in particular. “I do want to learn to do more, though, justify my presence here.” I won’t just be a burden.

"Kindness and compassion are tools, which even I struggle with. You've got heart, kid, and you bring your own specialties to the table. The road's not going to just be bad guy to kill, one after another."

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

56 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

"Kindness and compassion are tools, which even I struggle with. You've got heart, kid, and you bring your own specialties to the table. The road's not going to just be bad guy to kill, one after another."

She smiled a bit, acknowledging to herself maybe she had been worried about just that. “That’s good to hear. Still, I should learn enough not to get myself in trouble.”

[Knight of Iron she/they]

1 minute ago, JesterLavorre said:

She smiled a bit, acknowledging to herself maybe she had been worried about just that. “That’s good to hear. Still, I should learn enough not to get myself in trouble.”

Exodus gave Ara a genuine, friendly smile. “I doubt we’ll get into too much trouble, but point taken. We’ll have time for that. Plus, Minuet here can help you learn if she’d be so kind. Let’s get something to eat downstairs, and we’ll head off!”

@Condensation

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

1 minute ago, Knight of Iron said:

Exodus gave Ara a genuine, friendly smile. “I doubt we’ll get into too much trouble, but point taken. We’ll have time for that. Plus, Minuet here can help you learn if she’d be so kind. Let’s get something to eat downstairs, and we’ll head off!”

@Condensation

Ara smiled at Minuet, though inside she was still a little afraid of the girl. That was Ara’s fault, of course. Selfish of her to hold onto her fears just because—

Ara nodded to Exodus, then started to make her way out of the doorway and down the stairs.

[Knight of Iron she/they]

19 hours ago, JesterLavorre said:

Ara smiled at Minuet, though inside she was still a little afraid of the girl. That was Ara’s fault, of course. Selfish of her to hold onto her fears just because—

Ara nodded to Exodus, then started to make her way out of the doorway and down the stairs.

As they came down the stairs, Exodus noticed that the tavern was empty, which made sense considering the early hour. It was almost eerily quiet, with just the crackling of the cozy fireplace. The barkeeper, gently sweeping the floor with a broom, looked up at them and smiled.

"Early risers? Can't say I don't blame ya," he said quietly, so as not to wake anyone, yet still cheerfully. "What'd you young folks like to have, today?"

"Can't speak for my comrades," Exodus started, shaking the old man's hand, "But I'd request an ancient, foreign delicacy of my people."

The man pushed in a chair and walked behind the counter, where he leaned the straw broom against the wall. He placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. "What I can do will depend on what this delicacy requires," he said.

"You mean, how much gold I got on me."

He grinned. "That, too."

Exodus grabbed a few coins from a pouch hanging from his belt and set them on the table. "Thin, circular layer of dough. Cover it with a tomato soup, of sorts, and cover all that in shredded cheese. Couple spots of sliced pork, then we throw it in the oven. Think you can do that?"

The barkeeper pocketed the coins and nodded. "Sounds easy enough, though it might take me a bit." He looked to the girls. "And what'd you young ladies have to eat?"

@JesterLavorre @Condensation

Quote

Yes, Exodus just ordered pizza.

---

Orpheus thought about it. "I don't know, like four to eight people, or something. And we'll visit the graveyard before we go," he added.

@Isabelle6060 @Channelknight Fadran

Edited August 23, 2021 by Knight of Iron

[Channelknight Fadran]

"Mkay." Val pulled the pillow off her face and threw a shirt on.

Quote

Okay, no, she was not topless all night. Get your minds out of the gutter. She was wearing a tank top underneath.

 

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

1 minute ago, Knight of Iron said:

As they came down the stairs, Exodus noticed that the tavern was empty, which made sense considering the early hour. It was almost eerily quiet, with just the crackling of the cozy fireplace. The barkeeper, gently sweeping the floor with a broom, looked up at them and smiled.

"Early risers? Can't say I don't blame ya," he said quietly, so as not to wake anyone, yet still cheerfully. "What'd you young folks like to have, today?"

"Can't speak for my comrades," Exodus started, shaking the old man's hand, "But I'd request an ancient, foreign delicacy of my people."

The man pushed in a chair, walked behind the counter where he leaned the straw broom against the wall. He placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. "What I can do will depend on what this delicacy requires," he said.

"You mean, how much gold I got on me."

He grinned. "That, too."

Exodus grabbed a few coins from a pouch hanging from his belt and set them on the table. "Thin, circular layer of dough. Cover it with a tomato soup, of sorts, and cover all that in shredded cheese. Couple spots of sliced pork, then we throw it in the oven. Think you can do that?"

The barkeeper pocketed the coins and nodded. "Sounds easy enough, though it might take me a bit." He looked to the girls. "And what'd you young ladies have to eat?"

@JesterLavorre @Condensation

 

Ara pulled out some coins and payed them down. She had figured out the proper conversions for Aerduaran currency to the local. That first interaction at that inn had been embarrassing. Gold was so much more valuable here. “I’ll just have some of what he’s having.” She nodded to Exodus, smiling at him. “It sounds interesting. Plus, a bit of whatever fruits are in season right now.”

[S4S]

At the far end of the Wizard Tower’s alcove kitchen, a small cobblestone oven was built into the back corner of the room. Constructed in the shape of a wide dome with an arched opening near the front, it was a perfectly sized kitchen stove for baking breads and intricate dishes.

On most mornings the old oven would have nothing more than cold ash and charcoal remains left behind from the day before. This particular morning though, a fire had already been lit using a stack of tinder off to the side by the base of the stove. Light orange flames curled across the dry wood inside the furnace, swirling light and heat in gentle curls as the fire danced with contentment.

Standing alone in front of the oven was Ni.

Living… breathing… Ni.

Transfixed on the flickering flames within the furnace, his hands hovered just in front of the stove’s opening as he stood watching the fire quietly. Wearing the same oversized coat and boots from yesterday, Ni had even found and replaced the burlap hood back onto his head that he had found discarded the night before. It drooped slightly around the edges though, as both his hood and every piece of clothing on him was damp or soaked. The heat from the oven seemed to be slowly drying him however, as Ni was no longer dripping water into the sizeable puddle that had built up at his feet.

Only the sounds of the crackling fire broke the silence that hovered around Ni as he gazed deep into the flames.

[Isabelle6060 she/her]

1 hour ago, Knight of Iron said:

Orpheus thought about it. "I don't know, like four to eight people, or something. And we'll visit the graveyard before we go," he added.

 

1 hour ago, S4S said:

At the far end of the Wizard Tower’s alcove kitchen, a small cobblestone oven was built into the back corner of the room. Constructed in the shape of a wide dome with an arched opening near the front, it was a perfectly sized kitchen stove for baking breads and intricate dishes.

On most mornings the old oven would have nothing more than cold ash and charcoal remains left behind from the day before. This particular morning though, a fire had already been lit using a stack of tinder off to the side by the base of the stove. Light orange flames curled across the dry wood inside the furnace, swirling light and heat in gentle curls as the fire danced with contentment.

Standing alone in front of the oven was Ni.

Living… breathing… Ni.

Transfixed on the flickering flames within the furnace, his hands hovered just in front of the stove’s opening as he stood watching the fire quietly. Wearing the same oversized coat and boots from yesterday, Ni had even found and replaced the burlap hood back onto his head that he had found discarded the night before. It drooped slightly around the edges though, as both his hood and every piece of clothing on him was damp or soaked. The heat from the oven seemed to be slowly drying him however, as Ni was no longer dripping water into the sizeable puddle that had built up at his feet.

Only the sounds of the crackling fire broke the silence that hovered around Ni as he gazed deep into the flames.

“Ok. I can do that. I’d like to add a couple of wild flowers to the grave before we leave, so that’s perfect.” Cara replied. “I’ll go see what I can find in the kitchen.”

Cara walked down the hallway, whistling a soft tune. When she approached the end of the hallway, she opened the door to the kitchen. 
 

Cara glanced around the room, scanning its contents. When her eyes rested on Ni, she shrieked as loud as she could and jumped back, eyes wide and face ghost white.

Edited August 23, 2021 by Isabelle6060

[S4S]

1 hour ago, Isabelle6060 said:

Cara glanced around the room, scanning its contents. When her eyes rested on Ni, she shrieked as loud as she could and jumped back, eyes wide and face ghost white.

At the sudden shout of horror coming from the kitchen’s doorway, Ni’s head snapped up as he jumped in fright. Moving by instinct, he spun quickly to face the source of the terrified scream. But as Ni’s boots swept across the slick puddle at his feet, his legs shot out from beneath him in a disoriented manner as he crashed to the wet floor; he hadn’t been able to even get a clear glance of who was in the doorway before slamming his elbow and the side of his head hard against the ground with a muffled grunt.

Sprawled out on his stomach as he lay on the pool of water on the floor, the panic in Ni seemed to melt away as it was replaced with new emotion. Softly exhaling from behind he hood over his face, the small boy rolled lethargically onto his knees as he rested his arms on the ground to hold his head in his hands. There was a slight recoil in his posture as his back arched while he knelt on the wet ground, grasping the sides of his covered face with bone-white knuckles in an appearance of pain and frustration.

[Knight of Iron she/they]

3 hours ago, JesterLavorre said:

Ara pulled out some coins and payed them down. She had figured out the proper conversions for Aerduaran currency to the local. That first interaction at that inn had been embarrassing. Gold was so much more valuable here. “I’ll just have some of what he’s having.” She nodded to Exodus, smiling at him. “It sounds interesting. Plus, a bit of whatever fruits are in season right now.”

The man chuckled. "Don't know how it'll turn out, but alright!" He slid a bowl of grapes and nuts over to her. "That work?"

[+JesterLavorre she/they]

1 hour ago, Knight of Iron said:

The man chuckled. "Don't know how it'll turn out, but alright!" He slid a bowl of grapes and nuts over to her. "That work?"

“Yes. Thank you very much.”

[Trutharchivist he/him]

52 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

The man chuckled. "Don't know how it'll turn out, but alright!" He slid a bowl of grapes and nuts over to her. "That work?"

Quote

Umm... It's winter. No grapes. Don't know about nuts.

A man burst into the tavern. He turned to the barkeeper. "I. Need. Meat." He says. "I can pay." His features are a little... canine, weirdly. Those who found themselves in the wrong places too often would be able to recognize him as a Wanderer - specifically, a Wolfson. And usually, where there's one there are others.

Quote

Hope it works. We'll see how it goes.

 

3 hours ago, Isabelle6060 said:

 

“Ok. I can do that. I’d like to add a couple of wild flowers to the grave before we leave, so that’s perfect.” Cara replied. “I’ll go see what I can find in the kitchen.”

Cara walked down the hallway, whistling a soft tune. When she approached the end of the hallway, she opened the door to the kitchen. 
 

Cara glanced around the room, scanning its contents. When her eyes rested on Ni, she shrieked as loud as she could and jumped back, eyes wide and face ghost white.

Gal jumped at the scream from inside, his concentration broken. He debated himself, and decided to stay out, for now, though he found it hard to concentrate again.

_______________________________________

Sef frowned at the scream. "Jonathan!" He called. One of the ghost servants flew into the library. "Go and check what was this scream about. It came from the kitchen, I think."

2 hours ago, S4S said:

At the sudden shout of horror coming from the kitchen’s doorway, Ni’s head snapped up as he jumped in fright. Moving by instinct, he spun quickly to face the source of the terrified scream. But as Ni’s boots swept across the slick puddle at his feet, his legs shot out from beneath him in a disoriented manner as he crashed to the wet floor; he hadn’t been able to even get a clear glance of who was in the doorway before slamming his elbow and the side of his head hard against the ground with a muffled grunt.

Sprawled out on his stomach as he lay on the pool of water on the floor, the panic in Ni seemed to melt away as it was replaced with new emotion. Softly exhaling from behind he hood over his face, the small boy rolled lethargically onto his knees as he rested his arms on the ground to hold his head in his hands. There was a slight recoil in his posture as his back arched while he knelt on the wet ground, grasping the sides of his covered face with bone-white knuckles in an appearance of pain and frustration.

Jonathan flew through the corridors, finding a terrified girl standing in the entrance, while a small child was lying on the floor.

What is that? What is scary? He asked in the howling voice of the ghost servants.

[Isabelle6060 she/her]

8 hours ago, S4S said:

At the sudden shout of horror coming from the kitchen’s doorway, Ni’s head snapped up as he jumped in fright. Moving by instinct, he spun quickly to face the source of the terrified scream. But as Ni’s boots swept across the slick puddle at his feet, his legs shot out from beneath him in a disoriented manner as he crashed to the wet floor; he hadn’t been able to even get a clear glance of who was in the doorway before slamming his elbow and the side of his head hard against the ground with a muffled grunt.

Sprawled out on his stomach as he lay on the pool of water on the floor, the panic in Ni seemed to melt away as it was replaced with new emotion. Softly exhaling from behind he hood over his face, the small boy rolled lethargically onto his knees as he rested his arms on the ground to hold his head in his hands. There was a slight recoil in his posture as his back arched while he knelt on the wet ground, grasping the sides of his covered face with bone-white knuckles in an appearance of pain and frustration.

Cara stood in the doorway, speechless.

What the heck? How did this happen? She thought. 

After several minutes, Cara finally squeaked. “Did we….bury you alive?”

[S4S]

2 hours ago, Isabelle6060 said:

After several minutes, Cara finally squeaked. “Did we….bury you alive?”

Ni flinched; he hadn’t looked up to see who was in the doorway after they had screamed, but he knew that voice from yesterday. Pulling himself tighter as he knelt on the wet ground, a wave of emotions swept through Ni as he heard Cara speak.

Not daring to meet her eyes though, Ni simply shook his head through trembling hands.

No, they had not buried Ni alive.

[Knight of Iron she/they]

12 hours ago, Trutharchivist said:

A man burst into the tavern. He turned to the barkeeper. "I. Need. Meat." He says. "I can pay." His features are a little... canine, weirdly. Those who found themselves in the wrong places too often would be able to recognize him as a Wanderer - specifically, a Wolfson. And usually, where there's one there are others.

Exodus noticed the the man and, as was his nature, smiled. But he pointedly did not greet him. Oh, how he tried to see Wanderer's as equals, and though ideologically he did, it still didn't stop the wave of annoyance at some of their more carnal ways. One would've thought a few centuries would do the trick, but it had almost made it worse by simply just giving him more experience with them.

The barkeeper, however, just smiled kindly. "Any meat will do?"

Quote

I'll retcon the grapes to oranges, since oranges are apparently a winter fruit. As are chestnuts.

Orpheus looked to Valzwyn after hearing a scream from the kitchen. "Uh... is there anything particularly... scary, in your kitchen that you know of? Or should we probably check that out?"

@Channelknight Fadran

[Channelknight Fadran]

"The ghosts, I guess."

[Trutharchivist he/him]

8 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

Exodus noticed the the man and, as was his nature, smiled. But he pointedly did not greet him. Oh, how he tried to see Wanderer's as equals, and though ideologically he did, it still didn't stop the wave of annoyance at some of their more carnal ways. One would've thought a few centuries would do the trick, but it had almost made it worse by simply just giving him more experience with them.

The barkeeper, however, just smiled kindly. "Any meat will do?"

"Yes. Don't care for cooking. Now."

 

6 hours ago, Isabelle6060 said:

Cara stood in the doorway, speechless.

What the heck? How did this happen? She thought. 

After several minutes, Cara finally squeaked. “Did we….bury you alive?”

 

4 hours ago, S4S said:

Ni flinched; he hadn’t looked up to see who was in the doorway after they had screamed, but he knew that voice from yesterday. Pulling himself tighter as he knelt on the wet ground, a wave of emotions swept through Ni as he heard Cara speak.

Not daring to meet her eyes though, Ni simply shook his head through trembling hands.

No, they had not buried Ni alive.

Jonathan the ghost flew around, then said: Kid buried yesterday? That's him?

10 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

Orpheus looked to Valzwyn after hearing a scream from the kitchen. "Uh... is there anything particularly... scary, in your kitchen that you know of? Or should we probably check that out?"

@Channelknight Fadran

 

10 minutes ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

"The ghosts, I guess."

Oswald, who happened to pass by, said: Not scary. We friendly!

[Knight of Iron she/they]

6 hours ago, Channelknight Fadran said:

"The ghosts, I guess."

6 hours ago, Trutharchivist said:

Oswald, who happened to pass by, said: Not scary. We friendly!

"I don't think she'd be screaming about the ghosts. We ought to go check."

6 hours ago, Trutharchivist said:

"Yes. Don't care for cooking. Now."

The barkeeper seemed unfazed by the man's urgency. He turned around and opened a door back, then called. "Get some of 'em chickens we killed this mornin', and keep 'em raw." Then he turned to the somewhat canine man. "Roy's gettin' it, but you're going to have to show me some coin."

[Isabelle6060 she/her]

11 hours ago, S4S said:

Ni flinched; he hadn’t looked up to see who was in the doorway after they had screamed, but he knew that voice from yesterday. Pulling himself tighter as he knelt on the wet ground, a wave of emotions swept through Ni as he heard Cara speak.

Not daring to meet her eyes though, Ni simply shook his head through trembling hands.

No, they had not buried Ni alive.

“How are you alive?” Cara asked. “And…are you okay?”

[S4S]

27 minutes ago, Isabelle6060 said:

“How are you alive?” Cara asked. “And…are you okay?”

Curling his body further to rest his forehead on the ground, Ni tucked his arms close to the sides of his body. Clutching his jacket near his chest tightly with one hand, he raised the other hand to his lips hidden behind his hood as he continued to shake his head back and forth, again and again in silent defiance.

[Isabelle6060 she/her]

1 hour ago, S4S said:

Curling his body further to rest his forehead on the ground, Ni tucked his arms close to the sides of his body. Clutching his jacket near his chest tightly with one hand, he raised the other hand to his lips hidden behind his hood as he continued to shake his head back and forth, again and again in silent defiance.

“Ni?” Cara carefully walked over to him and knelt on the floor beside him. She comfortingly set a hand on his back. Although she feared this was just a strange dream, she asked. “What’s wrong?” 

[Condensation she/her]

On 8/20/2021 at 6:30 PM, Knight of Iron said:

Exodus whirled around to see Minuet, already awake. "An early riser, I see! Did you get breakfast already, or ought we to head downstairs for some bread and cheese?"

"I ate already, thank you."

On 8/21/2021 at 10:47 PM, Knight of Iron said:

Exodus gave Ara a genuine, friendly smile. “I doubt we’ll get into too much trouble, but point taken. We’ll have time for that. Plus, Minuet here can help you learn if she’d be so kind. Let’s get something to eat downstairs, and we’ll head off!”

"That would be far too dangerous."

On 8/21/2021 at 10:50 PM, JesterLavorre said:

Ara smiled at Minuet, though inside she was still a little afraid of the girl. That was Ara’s fault, of course. Selfish of her to hold onto her fears just because—

Ara nodded to Exodus, then started to make her way out of the doorway and down the stairs.

Quote

Afraid? YOU SHOULD BE--

ha ha ha ha ha

On 8/22/2021 at 6:10 PM, Knight of Iron said:

As they came down the stairs, Exodus noticed that the tavern was empty, which made sense considering the early hour. It was almost eerily quiet, with just the crackling of the cozy fireplace. The barkeeper, gently sweeping the floor with a broom, looked up at them and smiled.

"Early risers? Can't say I don't blame ya," he said quietly, so as not to wake anyone, yet still cheerfully. "What'd you young folks like to have, today?"

"Can't speak for my comrades," Exodus started, shaking the old man's hand, "But I'd request an ancient, foreign delicacy of my people."

The man pushed in a chair and walked behind the counter, where he leaned the straw broom against the wall. He placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. "What I can do will depend on what this delicacy requires," he said.

"You mean, how much gold I got on me."

He grinned. "That, too."

Exodus grabbed a few coins from a pouch hanging from his belt and set them on the table. "Thin, circular layer of dough. Cover it with a tomato soup, of sorts, and cover all that in shredded cheese. Couple spots of sliced pork, then we throw it in the oven. Think you can do that?"

The barkeeper pocketed the coins and nodded. "Sounds easy enough, though it might take me a bit." He looked to the girls. "And what'd you young ladies have to eat?"

"I've already eaten," Minuet said shortly.

[Knight of Iron she/they]

18 minutes ago, Condensation said:

"I ate already, thank you."

"That would be far too dangerous."

"I've already eaten," Minuet said shortly.

“Let us sit, then,” Exodus offered, a bit eager to get away from the hungry Wolfson, even if just a little. “Tell me, what know either of you of the Northwestern Dragonlands?”

[Condensation she/her]

4 minutes ago, Knight of Iron said:

“Let us sit, then,” Exodus offered, a bit eager to get away from the hungry Wolfson, even if just a little. “Tell me, what know either of you of the Northwestern Dragonlands?”

"Enough. I've been there, learned about it."