[Nexus] The Black Dragon's Den IX

[Artemis97]

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/sjunderw/Other/Den.png

This old warehouse by the docks and on the edge of the city slums has numerous secret passageways and tunnels leading to it. When you walk in, either from the street or below, you see a freshly cleaned interior that actually looks somewhat welcoming, however, as a seedy hive of smugglers, pirates, and home of the local wererat assassin guild; this is a rough place to have a drink.

The back half of the building has been converted into a set of rooms, used by those who need a bit of privacy, whether to have a private card game, hold a secret meeting, or just to get away from the world while enjoying a dose of some of the more exotic items the Den serves. We don't care what you do here, just don't leave a mess. Just keep in mind, the walls are a little thin back there, and can be listened through (or busted through), so be careful.

The gambling scene is lively here, with craps, three-dragon ante, and darts, among other things. There are certainly not knife-fights held in the ring in the basement. Come early for a ringside seat. Gambling is permitted. Anyone caught betting against themselves will be killed, or worse. So don't do it.

The servers are all NPC goblins. They are: Blackeye, Hooktooth, and Daggernose.
The cook is a goblin woman named Sicklewort.
The NPC bouncer is Gnarl, the orc.

The menu is as follows:

Drinks

Common Drinks
All the common drinks are available in an extremely wide range of qualities, brands, and prices. Just remember- you pay for what you get.

Absinthe
Ale
Beer
Brandy
Coffee
Hard Cider
Kumis (Fermented milk)
Mead
Rum
Tea
Tequila
Vodka
Whiskey
Wine

Specialty Drinks
The specialty drinks are either crafted here or ordered specially from other sources. Normally they are higher class and more palatable, but that is not always the case...
Black Shadow-
A strong concoction guaranteed to send a chill down your spine at any temperature.
Damned Soul Nectar-
Yummy. Damned souls. Perfect for demons, devils, or anyone else lacking a conscience.
Devil Brew-
It tastes good, though drinking it will gradually corrupt your soul to evil.
Drow Spiderblood Wine-
A specialty drow wine with a strong bite, and a hint of spider venom. Alcohol isn't the only thing you have to worry about when drinking it... but it does taste good.
Firewine-
This wine is created in a way that literally leaves the top simmering and flaming. Only recommended to those who have a good fire resistance. However, it is extremely warm and has a fairly sweet taste.
Frenzywater-
You want to know what it is like to see red? Frenzywater will having you raging like a barbarian.
Goblin Thudrud Beer-
A favorite of goblins... but described by others as smelling like a rotten, flaming cow.
Hearth Brew Mead
This is a sweet mead with raspberries, rhubarb and some kind of ingredient that makes you feel warm when you drink it.
Ichor Liquor-
A mixture of blood and alcohol made especially for our vampiric friends. It can be served neat, on the rocks, or specially heated to 98.6 F.
Liquid Agony-
A drink brewed and distilled from the agony of victims, and quite sweet and tasty, but very addictive.
Mindflayer Mead-
A special brew for those squid-headed fellows. Also appropriate for Zombies, or anyoen else who likes the taste of brains.
Mushroom Wine
An Underdark drink fermented from mushrooms. It has a good deal of sugar added to it and tastes sweet, but may cause hallucinations...
Orc Kragg Liquor-
Strong. Disgusting. Manly.
Poisonbite Cocktail-
This brew is mixed of several poisons and rum. It induces extreme euphoria, and will drain the drinker's strength and mental capacities for a day or so.
Rat Mead-
This foul concoction is meant more for drinking games, and less for taste. You'll need a strong stomach to keep it down.


Other

Food
Like the drinks, the food ranges in quality and price... the menu is currently under improvement.
Bread-
Crusty, burnt, soggy, or rotten. It's not your choice. A better bakery is "under construction" in the back. Thanks to a newly built brick oven, the bread is actually quite good now, baked fresh daily.
Dragon Steak-
This tender, extremely tasty steak is excellently prepared, but its source is undisclosed...
Fish of the Day-
The catch of the day, or yesterday... be sure to specify "fresh."
Puffer fish liver-
Tetrodotoxin, anyone? Extreme poison is ahead.
Soup-
Most common soups are available, but pay for what you want, or you'll get something else. Served in a bread bowl.

Mushrooms
Our mushrooms are well acclaimed for their taste and subtle poisons. If you have enemies, make sure they you didn't get something other than what you asked for...
Amanita-
A hallucinogenic mushroom that is fairly toxic. May cause nausea, sensory distortions, mood changes, and loss of equilibrium. Retrograde amnesia frequently results following recovery. Serious poisonings cause delirium, seizures, or comas.
Chanterelle-
An edible but unremarkable mushroom. Available pickled or dried.
Lorchel-
Also known as false morels (due to similarity in appearance), eating these raw results in extreme liver failure or death. Properly prepared, however, they are quite delicious. Available both raw and parboiled (properly prepared).
Morchella-
Also known as morels, these very prized and tasty mushrooms are available raw.
Omphalotus-
This mushroom looks the same as the Chanterelle. It is extremely appealing in smell and appearance, but has a mild toxicity that will lead to vomiting and cramps.
Oyster-
Unlike other mushrooms, this one has no confusing look alikes, and is prized for that quality alone. Served raw or stuffed.
Porcini-
Also known as Boletus ("superior"), the porcini is highly regarded and is served raw or sautéed with butter.
Portabello-
While edible, this is either described as plain or only slightly sweet. Available raw or stuffed.
Psilocybin-
This mushroom is famed for its hallucinogenic effects, while lacking dangerous toxins. Available raw and dried.
Shiitake-
These mushrooms are normally added to ordered soups. Available dried or raw.

Drink Additives
Buy them for your drink, or for someone else's drink... everything goes here.
Doze Pill-
A combination of magical energies and herbs guaranteed to put the drinker to sleep in a few minutes.
Hanger's Drop-
Ask for this in someone's drink to put them six feet under. Commonly means poison, though other methods can be bought depending on the target.
Happy Juice-
As seen in Malleo's shop. Turns the hair pink, and makes the drinker extremely happy.
Wonder Trip-
A mixture of magic and poison that causes extreme hallucinations and delirium which are not directly harmful or toxic.

Other Additives are available, you just have to ask.

Other Drugs
If it doesn't get you drunk, and it isn't a mushroom... we still sell it.
Arhtorvin
A gray powder made by different magic plants, Arthorvin is extremely calming. It is ingested, and numbs emotions and reactions.
Baccaran
A paste made of numerous, undisclosed substances, this is a mild hallucinogen that becomes more powerful as it is used in repetition and increased dosage.
Dreammist
This drug is formed into a tea, and then the vapors are inhaled. It causes incredibly beautiful and wonderful hallucinations that make the world seem dull in comparison. Overdose is extremely debilitating, as is directly drinking the substance.
Devilweed
A tobacco-like substance that is moderately addictive and makes the smoker skittish and more easily confused. Users enjoy it because it glazes over the memories of whatever happens during its effective.
Luhix
A powder made from plants grown in the abyss. It is sprinkled on self inflicted wounds- initially it causes intense pain, then numbs the body entirely. It is one of the most addictive substances known amongst the planes, but overdosing even a little may cause terrible, painful death.
Mertoran Leaf
This leaf is dried and treated. It is not very addictive, but it is cheap, popular, and boosts confidence. Ingested, not smoked.
Redflower Leaves
These leaves are only moderately addictive, but are known to give a boost to hand-eye coordination, making them popular among those who often engage in knife tossing or dart throwing. They are consumed raw and chewed.
Sannish
This blue liquid is made out of unknown ingredients and causes euphoria. It has a tendency to stain flesh and anything else it touches. Overdosing causes intense numbness.

This is by no means the limit of what we can get our hands on, just ask and we'll see what we can do.

Games
As a new addition to the Black Dragon's Den, there is a back room where all kinds of gaming take place. Goblins generally oversee the games and make sure things are fair... but everyone here can be bribed. Best to keep an eye on things yourself.

Card Games
-Coming Soon-

Dice Games
We provide all of the dice used here... unless you slip them out of our sleeve. "Better" dice can be bought with a quiet word and a few coin, though we don't provide protection from those who find out that you've used them.

Coin Pass
This is a simple dice game played with a pair of six sided dice, and is generally best with four or more players.
Each player puts out two coins (generally one type of coin is chosen, copper, silver, gold, or platinum) and then, in turn, each player rolls the dice.
If a player rolls a one, they take one of their coins and place it in the pot.
If a player rolls a six, they take one of their coins and pass it to the person on the left. This continues until only one player has coins, at which time they take the pot.
If a player has no coins left, they have one round to wait for someone to pass them a coin (by roll of a six), after which they can buy their way back in. You can only buy your way back into a game once.

Serpent's Eyes
This game is played with a pair of six sided dice, and a game board in the shape of the world serpent.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/sjunderw/Other/Serpenteye.png
Before the game begins, the number of rounds to play are determined, though the game may end ahead of time, or when one player runs out of coins/chips. Generally people play with a large number of rounds (double digits).
A round is completed once every player has rolled the dice once.
The dice start with the player closest to the seven on the board.
When a player rolls the dice, he does one of three things.
If he rolls any number 3-11, he places a coin on the corresponding number on the board, or, if the number is already filled with coins, they take the coins off of that number.
If he rolls a 2, he places a coin on every number on the board.
If he rolls a 12, he takes all coins from the board.


Warship
This game is played with five dice for each player. The person who rolls first is normally determined randomly.
The goal of the game is to create the best 'ship', where a 'ship' is a straight formed either forwards (1,2,3) or backwards (3,2,1). To create a straight, you roll the dice, and choose anywhere from 0-3 numbers from them. Your first chosen die is your starting number (IE, a number on either end of a straight), the second die chosen has to be the middle number of your straight, and the third die chosen is the last of your straight.
You have three rolls of the dice to form a straight. Whenever you choose one of these die, you remove it from the dice you roll to get the next number.
The game progresses like this:
1) Each player places an amount of money agreed on when the game starts.
2) Each player rolls the dice once, chooses any dice from their roll that they want, then either adds in the money first agreed on again, or passes from the game, but leaves any money they first bet in the pot (Note that everyone can see what die you have chosen, if you have chosen a die already).
3) Repeat the second step once more, then every player rolls the dice once more, and the person with the ship with the highest straight wins. If someone creates a ship one the first or second roll, they still bet, but do not have to roll until the last round (which is only done in case of ties).

If no one has a straight, the winner is based on the person with the highest number set aside (with only players with dice set aside competing). If there is a tie in highest numbers, they go to the second die set aside (with only players with two dice competing). If there is a tie between set aside die, they proceed with the same process into the dice they last rolled (excluding those set aside)

If two people have the same straight, they compare the numbers rolled on their last turn (not including the ones placed into their "ship"). The person with the highest numbers wins.

The winner takes all money in the pot. Generally, more than one game is played at once.

Other Games
These may be more or less 'games' as such... but are just as entertaining.

Darts
Bet on how well someone will throw, whether they can do it with their eyes closed... with their left hand... or if they can dodge a knife- it's all good. There are a few different dart boards, so any number of rings and scoring areas can be played with.

Knife Fights
We hold knife fights here every once in a while, down in the basement. To surrender or death. Place your bets, folks.
-No current list of PC fighters. Contact management to arrage something 'formal.'

Previous Threads
The Black Dragon's Den (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165827)
The Black Dragon's Den II (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171233)
The Black Dragon's Den III (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174933)
The Black Dragon's Den IV (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180536)
The Black Dragon's Den V (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188036)
The Black Dragon's Den VI (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195805)
The Black Dragon's Den VII (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206103)
The Black Dragon's Den VIII (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219840)

[The Bandicoot]

Cragg tilts his head, staring at Junior and grabs two of the empty jugs from their drinking game. He starts pouring into one and when its full he'll move onto the other. By then, if Junior is watching, he should figure out that Cragg wasn't wasting good booze. After all, the clear bottle was only half full when he pulled it out. It just happened to stay half full when he poured it. Wee cohld sehl eet. He says holding one of the jugs up. Ohn Joog Ohf Bewze

[Terumitsu]

Right, this headache wasn't gonna go away on it's own here. Too much going on. And the back rooms wouldn't be any solace as she knew how thin the walls were. Heck, it would just make it worse, really, as she could probably list a short history of each just by smell alone now. Thinking about what goes on back there, it sounded like either a terrible idea to start with or the makings of an excellent drinking game. Yeah, one drink each for sex and drugs while murders and business deals count for two. Three for demon summonings. Hmm... Need something to count for the whole bottle. Eh. Later when it's easier to think.

Unless someone had the bright idea to get Ghoul's attention on her way out, then she would be out in the streets and looking for a quiet, dimly lit place.

Hopefully clean as well. Clean places didn't have so many smells to them... Though 'lemon fresh' may sting a little, now that she thought of it.

[Chaotic Bob]

Cragg takes out his bottle of vodka and uncorks it, attempting to dump its contents on Viera. Seeing as how its an everfull bottle he could probably keep pouring until the end of time. He won't however, he'll just pour until she looks decently covered.


Junior, who is holding on to the mischevious starspawn, splutters when Cragg appears to be wasting perfectly good booze by pouring it on her. His wallet and keys do fall onto the chair though.

"Oi! Cork it or shove it in yer throat yeh blaggart. No sense tryina punish tha chitlet like tha." Junior steps back and tries to pull Viera with him, hopefully out of the way of the spilt booze.

Junior attempts to tighten his grip on Viera, letting the noogie stop. "Now lass, yeh did summat nasty ta me friend 'ere. Ee's Del, an' Ah'm gunna haveta ask yeh ta apologize, er else Ah'll jes let 'im decide what ee wants ta do wit yeh, a'right?"

There's another series of "meep"s at the initial booze-pouring and then the quick moving away.
Also the grip-tightening
And the prospect of apologizing to the funny-smelling horned guy.

Well. Everyone here smelled funny.
But he seemed sort of wrong, not like the other fleshy people here.

He was also glaring at her in a sort of unsettling way.
Dancing somewhere between an urge to kill and an urge to flip her upside down and dunk her in a bucket while screaming something about her being a disrespectful punk.
It was a weird look.

"I'msorryIjustreallylikepantsandtheseonesseemednice don'tdunkme?"


Del proceeds to be confused.
Then slowly nods and hides his face behind a distinctly not flaming alcoholic beverage.
This kid was weird. She should really just go away.
"Stay away from the adults while they're drinking."

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadíer limps in, still wary of his last business. Um...excuse me? I have important information about House Baen're. Secrets. Government Secrets. House Baen're is lawless and must be destroyed. May I talk to a Xar'cha representitive? Thenadíer looks like my avatar.

[The Bandicoot]

Cragg groans and corks one of the jugs, keeping it in his left hand incase Then decides to start another fight. If he does he'll find the jug and it's brother flying towards him and two small fireballs coming shortly after.

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadíer is not starting a fight. Last one didn't go so well...:smalleek:

[The Bandicoot]

And Cragg is going to make sure of that. Even going as far as to giving Then the universal "I'm watching you" hand signal and tapping his gun barrel.

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadíer has his emotionless face on. Cold, stern, and grouchy. His grey eyes are flaming though.

[The Bandicoot]

If Then stares into Cragg's eyes he might realize there are no eyes. Just empty sockets filled with a kind of mist. Cragg takes a swig of vodka and pushes it up to his eyesockets. Then he turns his head slightly and lights them on fire, looking back at Then with literal fiery eyes.

[Hattish Thing]

The fires might be literally put out by the ice inside Thenadíer's soul showing through his cold eyes.

[The Bandicoot]

Cragg simply pours more vodka and keeps the fires going. If Then keeps staring ice daggers at him though he might just decide to warm him up a bit. Maybe with some fire, maybe with some liquor, maybe with both.

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadíer shows no emotion. At all. Something killed this man. Thenadíer is a shell. A cruel, calculating, and critical shell, hiding behind the "law".

[The Bandicoot]

Cragg turns back towards the bar and deadtimes.

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadíer looks around for a Xar'cha.

[UncleWolf]

There's a rumble of deep bass coming outside the bar before the door bursts open as a pale white form is knocked through, into bar. The figure is a pale skinned elf clothed in All-Stars, baggy pants and a white "wife beater" shirt. The elf stands and readjusts his red ballcap so the bill is facing backwards.

He spits out blood as he watches a half-orc and a pair of his posse enter the Den with him. The half-orc is the infamous Thugmasta-Z, rapper and gangsta from the warehouse district of Red Zone, his golden necklace and blue ball cap revealing his identity.

The Half-Orc nods to his posse and the other two blue-capped orcs begin to get ready and they start beat-boxing. He's about to sing when there's the sound of a record scratching, breaking off the beat-boxing.

The elf smirks and lowers his hands, knowing he's gotten just a few spare moments from the simple self-named "Scratch" spell. With a slight twist of his hat, his own music begins to play.

"Yo pig, I'm gonna do mah thang
And I'm gonna beat yo head till it rang!
U and yo posse are gonna be layin' so low
That you'll be wishin' I was jus' a Jug-ga-lo!"

Oh dear Throne in heaven...a Rap Fight.

Thugmasta-Z and his posse take a step back in surprise, air knocked from their lungs by the sudden counterstanza to their earlier beat-box beating. The air crackles with energy around the elf, his Rebellious Nature reformed and shielding him from the verbal abuse that the Thugmasta and his cronies could toss at him if given a chance. The pair of beat-boxers try to restart but the gangsta elf continues with his improvised refrain.

"Now, you and yo posse think you Kings of Da Block
but, you half-breeds ain't worth more than a fruit cart.
I'm da real Masta, better than thou art.
Thugmasta, you ain't as right as a bro-ken clock!

Beat-Boxing may be a noble skill
But I'm steppin' through, heddin' for da keel.
You thought you could stomp me flat
But you shoulda known betta suckas, CAUSE I'M PHITY-PLAT!!!"

The Half-Orcs physically suffer under the verbal blows, bruises appearing as their pride is beaten. They back up, trying to get away from the vengeful once-victim, but he hunts after them, giving them no rest.

"You all get outta here, ya his-to-ry
Ya call yaselves rappers, but ya'll a shame to me!
You all get outta here, afore I make ya get on yo knees
Don't wanna see yo faces till ya have an ar-my!"

With his final word, Phity-Plat gives a stomp, causing a small shockwave of air to push into the so-called Thugmasta-Z and his crew, knocking them out of the Den. The elf rapper smirks and cracks his neck at a job well done before heading to the bar.

[Hattish Thing]

Um...elf. That's music? Thenadíer muses.

[Slii Arhem]

Junior nods at Del, grateful at least one of his drinking buddies can choose to show restraint around children.

"Aye lass, tha's a good point thar. Run along with yer pants an letus get back ta arr drinkin. Mebbe yeh can go steal tha pants offa some people yer own age yeh?"

With that the usually taciturn drorf releases his hold on Viera and tries to ruffle her hair as a parting shot.

"Off yeh go now lass, Ah mean it."

That rap battle over there looks interesting enough, but it seems it's already run its course. A shame really, since that means he won't get to showcase his breakdancing skills.

[Artemis97]

As the rap battle ends, a slow clap comes from the back of the barroom, where Raril Xar'Cha leans in the doorway. The drow has his eyes on 'Phity-Plat'. "You've got talent, kid. Real potential." The bard compliments the rapper, serious, before a grin spreads accross his face. "Now if you could just learn to play some real music."

[UncleWolf]

Plat scowls and spins on his stool to glare at the critics. " 'ey, why do ya gotta do that? If dis wasn't music then I woulda lost. I don't see any of you Rappin'."

[Artemis97]

Raril steps behind the bar and leans on it, looking at Plat. "Now, I'm not saying you didn't put on a good performance. Your improvizational skill is pretty good, but your rhyme and meter are off. With some polish, you might actually be able to compose something worth remembering.And call me old fashioned, but real music is... well, musical. With notes and instruments. You're just talking, there, friend."

[Hattish Thing]

Apparently our opinions on music vary...

[Chaotic Bob]

Viera skips away from Junior as he releases her, tying her latest pants acquisition to her previous acquisition.

Then she sticks her tongue out at the group and fades out in her usual patchwork fashion.
"Grumpy butts!"
Who would have thought that a drow-dragon and a rocky...thing would have been grumpier than a drow-dwarf?
Aren't dwarves supposed to be really cranky about booze things?

Weirdos.


Del glares at the spot she vanishes in, before proceeding to down the glass he was hiding behind.
"Damned demon children."
Demon in the broad, unruly sense.

[Slii Arhem]

Junior doesn't blink as Viera appears to break reality by fading away. He's seen worse things at the bottom of a bottle than pants-stealing rabbit children that don't obey the laws of physics.

He does surl right up again though, slipping his wallet and keys into his rucksack and taking a seat again, "Mmnot a grumpy butt..."

In defiance of common sense, Junior takes one of the leftover firewines and sips it gently, the flames tickling the insides of his nostrils.

He'll sit there in companionable (grumpy, surly, taciturn and altogether malaised) silence unless Del wishes to speak with him again.

[Mina Kobold]

At this very statement, a gust of wind seems to have opened the door, momentarily allowing nothing but fresh air to enter.

After a hopeful second, a colourful object is blown in the door by a similar gust, knocking a poor wizard's hat down in its owner's eyes before stopping with a buzz at the table of pants and Junior drorfs, tipping a suddenly-appearing hat at everybody present.

"harmony and grooves, that was fun!"

No longer moving, the object appears to be a peculiar little humanoid. Mundanities such as the solid green eyes and insectoid wings are paired with a colour-changing coat, red hair and aviator goggles.

"Oh. Pardon me very much, granolas, but is it me or you who are upside down."

The pixie, who indeed appear to have found himself on his head in mid-air, does a short bow.

[Slii Arhem]

Well then, isn't this an exciteable little fellow. Junior, finding himself in an altogether too pleasant mood, tips his rather heavy bowler hat back at the pixie.

"Tha's hard ta say. From a purely universal standpoint, non've us're really tha right ways around. How'vre, looks like grav'ty's pullin' me tha right way 'round today, so ah'd say ye're tha one what be upside down at tha moment." Sound logic, at least to someone familiar with special relativity and universal constants.

[Mina Kobold]

Pushing a green scarf out of his face, the Pixie turns around and drops to the floor, studying the arrangement of it and the ceiling.

"I believe you are right, mister... Crikey! I forgot introductions, how square of me!"

Bowing again, this time in a quite aristocratic manner, the Pixie presents himself.

"Greetings, I am Lewis Wyllt, mechanic, tea-maker and very glad to meet new faces. Who might you fine cats be?"

The polite greeting loses a bit of the seriousness by the cheery tone and psychedelic clothing of the speaker.

((Deadtime, I'm afraid. Sorries! T_T))

[The Bandicoot]

Cragg undeadtimes and peers at the pixie, extinguishing his flaming eyes. Eye ahm up yew are down. Or yew are up and Eye ahm down. Such ees leyefe. He isn't quite sure where he heard that before but it seemed to fit the current situation.

[Chaotic Bob]

Del peers at the pixie for a moment, rubbing a burn spot on his lip.
Too many peculiar creatures are appearing.

If this one gets anywhere near his face, like last one, he's shooting it.
"As long as your gravity stays over there..."

He had some vague question to ask Junior, but he either plans to wait until the pixie leaves or he forgot.
Which is a risk.

[Slii Arhem]

"Junior, short fer nuthin. Phycisist, mixologist, an' grump. Yeh can ave a drink one me if ye'll jes stop 'overin thar an take a seat." Junior may be getting a bit dizzy watching the groovy pixie, so hopefully the new patron will take the offer.

Otherwise there's a gut worth of liquid forgetfulness that wishes to have words with Junior once again.

[UncleWolf]

Plat frowns at Raril's words. "Whaddya expect me ta do? Grab a lyre and play "fiddle-do-dee, fiddle do-dum" all day long and prance about?" He sneers. "I don't know who ya are, old man, but get wit' da program. Dis ain't like old times. Ya wanna survive on the streets of Red as a musician, ya gotta get tough and know ya stuff. None of dat lute crap."

[The Bandicoot]

Old Flarg walks in and up to the bar. He orders his usual a rum on the rocks and a cigar and flips the bartenders an extra gold piece. He looks really messed up, hunched at the bar and staring at the lit end of the cigar like it's the only thing that makes sense in the world.

[Hattish Thing]

Plat frowns at Raril's words. "Whaddya expect me ta do? Grab a lyre and play "fiddle-do-dee, fiddle do-dum" all day long and prance about?" He sneers. "I don't know who ya are, old man, but get wit' da program. Dis ain't like old times. Ya wanna survive on the streets of Red as a musician, ya gotta get tough and know ya stuff. None of dat lute crap."

I traveled with the grande opera. I know a thing our two, boy.

[Mina Kobold]

Lewis' wings stop their flutter as he lands and summersaults over a chairback, sitting down across from Junior with an outstretched hand for shaking.

"Groovy meeting you, Junior Shortfernuddin. And I don't think I got your name, granola?"

The last bit is directed at Del, with a cheery smile that in no way indicates that shaking hands with a Pixie is in any way a bad idea.

Not at all.

Quite safe.

[Artemis97]

A rather predatory smile crosses the drow's face. This kid really didn't know anything did he?

"Well, allow me to educate you. I am Raril Xar'Cha. I own this bar, and I've lived in the Nexus since it was the Town. You want to talk about survival? I've been through multiple planes of hell and back. Laughed in the face of the most evil beings this world can produce. Stood and fought against apocalypse after apocalypse, and each time came out stronger. Though love, and loss, and more pain you can imagine, I survive. The streets of Red are nothing compared to the front lines of defending this city from certain doom. I live and thrive in this." Raril tells the young elf. "And I don't play a damned lute."

[The Bandicoot]

Old Flarg downs his rum and turns to the elf, shortly after the Xar'Cha finishes his little monologue. My name is Flarg Tosscobble and I have traveled through space and time. I have converted masses with a look, razed towns to the ground with a single word, and ressurected the dead with another. Spent some vacation time in Hell. Defeated angels, demons, and shadow beasts that would tear your little imbecillic mind to pieces. I have bent beings to my will that are beyond your comprehension. I have traveled to the threshold of death, spat in the bony pricks face, and told him he'd have to do better if he wanted me. My name is Flarg Tosscobble and I play the lute with the last word a lute appears in his hand and he stares at the elf, a look of pure disgust.

[UncleWolf]

Phity-Plat gets up from his stool, obviously annoyed. "Alright, if ya'll think I don't do music, I'll prove it." He says forcefully before looking around at everyone. "I challenge everyone who can perform an instrument, sing, or do music of some kind to a contest. If I win, all ya gotta do is admit I perform real music. I ain't no Wannabe. If I lose, I'll learn whatever instrument da winner tosses at me." He says, glaring at Raril and Flarg. "I don't care who either of ya are. If ya can play, ya can play. And I don't need no instruments or backups to whup ya either."

[Hattish Thing]

Really?! I might take yoi up on that.

[The Bandicoot]

Flarg peers at the elf and shrugs, the lute turning into a small, black, acoustic guitar in a puff of shadow. He plays a short, fast, five second multi-chord riff that is laced with a powerful magical suggestion. The suggestion is simple. This guy can play well enough to beat you. Of course, it is just a suggestion. I accept your challenge.

[Ashen Lilies]

Suddenly, a flash!

"Wait, are they having a musical contest? Mercutio, dear, I think they're having a musical contest! I love musical contests."
There's... a man sitting backwards on a chair in the Den, arms folded across the chairback, chair tilted on to two legs as he leans forwards excitedly. At least... I think it's a man. It's hard to tell under all that scruff. He's wearing a dilapidated hoodie, a pair of faded blue-jeans that are more hole than jeans, and a pair of sneakers that may have once been white, and indeed, may have once been a pair of proper sneakers, but now resemble nothing more than a ragged grey explosion of plastic and rubber wrapped around his feet. His hair (brown) is shoulder length and unkempt, his lower face heavily shadowed, his chin adorned with the sort of beard that looks startlingly like a dead rodent has simply been taped to his face, and his brilliant amber eyes underlined by heavy rings. On the whole, he gives off a smell that might have been oil paints, or instrument polish, or marble chips, or iron, or ink and wet parchment, or any number of such things, but mostly seems to smell old, and not altogether pleasant.

Next to him, a slightly more presentable man, 'Mercutio', stands next to him, straight-backed and at attention. His light blond hair is sleek and well-cut, his face clean-shaven, his pale complexion bright and cheerful, though his silvery eyes seem to lack the raw energy of the other man. He's dressed in a classic 'butler' combo, white shirt, pressed black pants, polished black shoes, black gloves, black waistcoat, black tie. On his tie, a silver tie-pin in the shape of a pair of ravens.

He nods carefully.

"Maybe they'll let you judge, sir?"

"Oooh! I love judging!" :smallbiggrin:

Anyone with the capacity to sense such will sense a powerful HOLY AURA surrounding the two. Stronger around the scruffy man, weaker around the clean one. Looks like the Den is hosting visiting divinity. And his angelic attendent.

[UncleWolf]

Phity-Plat just gives them a snort, immune to the Suggestion. After all, if he listened to those, he'd probably still be living with his parents and became a lawyer or someone else that suffocates in a tie every day.

"We need another coupla judges, then go ahead and start so I can trounce ya."

[Slii Arhem]

Lewis' wings stop their flutter as he lands and summersaults over a chairback, sitting down across from Junior with an outstretched hand for shaking.

"Groovy meeting you, Junior Shortfernuddin. And I don't think I got your name, granola?"

The last bit is directed at Del, with a cheery smile that in no way indicates that shaking hands with a Pixie is in any way a bad idea.

Not at all.

Quite safe.

Since Del doesn't seem to be answering, Junior will shake the pixie's hand anyway while he waits for a response, partly just to see what, if anything, will happen.

Mostly to shake off his deadtime and get moving again though.

[Mina Kobold]

As the Pixie and Junior shakes hands, any loose buttons or holes in the undeadtimed Drorf's clothing should fix themselves and a charm of sorts will try to keep his drink from spilling accidentally.

Lewis doesn't seem to notice the lucky charm, however, as he appears to grow several heads taller, taller even than many Orcs.


"Oy, sir Elfenman! Judging sounds a groovy snip! Could I harmoniously be allowed a try?"

Replying to the rapper's statement of judging lack in the most modern of tongues he know, the Pixie-gone-halfway-giant waves at the unfortunate Elf.

[Lady Serpentine]

Phity-Plat gets up from his stool, obviously annoyed. "Alright, if ya'll think I don't do music, I'll prove it." He says forcefully before looking around at everyone. "I challenge everyone who can perform an instrument, sing, or do music of some kind to a contest. If I win, all ya gotta do is admit I perform real music. I ain't no Wannabe. If I lose, I'll learn whatever instrument da winner tosses at me." He says, glaring at Raril and Flarg. "I don't care who either of ya are. If ya can play, ya can play. And I don't need no instruments or backups to whup ya either."

A pretty drowess, with the standard red eyes and white hair, stands, and walks over to the group, grinning.

"I'll take that challenge," she says, drawing an ornate bone harp, carved to look like a snarling dragon, wings folded over the strings; it would appear that it would be somewhat harder to play than a normal one, given that the player's hands are restricted, and they can't see the strings.


It's more praise then he gets most of the time. "No and no, boss." he says putting any of those fears to rest. "Female, human, brown hair."

Sevet might notice that there's another female human, with black hair, who seems to be drawing scraps of shadows to herself, sitting with Siri.

Said human, while she's smiling slightly at her companions' antics, is watching the other occupants coldly, much like a bodyguard for the winged woman might.

[OrchestraHc]

If the woman was visible when he first walked in, he would definitely report it to his boss. "Also another one, but black hair, and possibly magic. Is there anything else you'd want me to do?"

[Lord Magtok]

Magtok suddenly appears at a table, wearing his usual robe, but with an enormous, powdered, curly white wig hanging askew atop his ridiculous bald head. He leans back in a chair, steeples his fingers together, and smiles.

"You've got yourself another judge, Platman. If the lot of you are any less than as good as you say, though, I won't hesitate the bash the lot of you upside the head with a gavel."

[Lady Serpentine]

She was indeed visible when he first came in.

If his observation could be noticed by someone who's had a lot of practice at noticing such things, and is rather paranoid, Sevet is probably being watched more closely than the rest of the occupants of the Den.

[OrchestraHc]

Certainly, if she was capable of reading the skeleton's lack of face or eyes, which honestly, in Nexus you never know. He did go to the back awfully quick after Winguardia stood up. So y'know, eitherway.

So this post doesn't go entirely out of character, a pair of halfling construction workers walk into the bar. "Now this is what I'm talkin' about, Cracker," the younger, blond one carrying a blue metal shovel says, heavy on his Boston accent, "A tavern, not an inn where there's stuff like manners, foot wipin', and yer not aloud to spit." He tilts his head back and makes an hacking sound in the back of his throat, only to be hit in the gut by the handle of the other halflings strange blue metal pick. He accidentally swallows.

"That no spittin' rule still applies Digger," the elder, black haired and goateed halfling says in a Brooklyn accent. "That's just basic courtesy." The two of them both sit down and order beers.

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadíer warms up vocally. He has a deep baritone voice. Operatic.

[Artemis97]

Behind the bar, Raril shakes his head. "I've got nothing to prove here." He looks to Phity-Plat. "Kid, if you want to hone that talent of yours, come find me. But I've got business to attend to. Only came in to make certain my kin didn't blow up the place."

[The Bushranger]

Rhyan undeadtimes once more.
Clocks her player over the head...
And looks around, the half-drowess scrutinizing the bar.

Once more.

[UncleWolf]

"Alright, Raril." Phity-Plat says. Even as rebellious and disrespectful as the elf may be, he knows someone who runs this type of place never had to prove himself. The Den had a Rep after all.

The others though...

Plat gives them a slight, yet extremely arrogant, smirk. "Alright, go ahead and start. Ya'll saw me already, so ya know what ya're up against."

[Artemis97]

"Good luck, everyone." The drow says as he slips out the back door, chuckling at some private joke.

[Hattish Thing]

I go last.

[LadyOfWar]

Human? Well, yeah, I guess one could think that. Until they notice her fangs. Which Alysha makes no effort to hide.

The peppy vampire's eyes grow again as Winguardia reaches the good part of her sentence.

Yeah? Can it be done? I mean, I'm not heavy, if weight's the main factor.

((Night, LOW!))

"Weight is the main factor, yes. Though aerodynamics play a part." she smiles at the young vampire's eagerness. "I'm thinking that while I could not take off with the weight of another, nor gain altitude... I could glide. It would be like hang gliding. Now there is an idea! We ought to to find a place to rent some equipment and go hang-gliding. I will need to earn some money first though."

She turns to the others in their little group. "Would you all find that fun?"


If the woman was visible when he first walked in, he would definitely report it to his boss. "Also another one, but black hair, and possibly magic. Is there anything else you'd want me to do?"

"Keep her in sight. I'll be there within six minutes. If she tries to leave before then, stall her. She doesn't know you, so walk right up and talk to her if needed. If you can't come up with an idea of your own, ask her to help find a home for the kitten. She's a fool for little animals, it will be good for several minutes distraction."

The sounds in the background change to rushing wind as the winged man takes off. "After six minutes, if she tries to leave, let her go, don't bother following. I'll be waiting."

The connection stays live just long enough for the skeleton to say something else, if he must, but it had best be quick.

[OrchestraHc]

"Gotcha boss." Is all he really has to say after the order.

Returning to the main area, he takes a seat at the bar and puts a few copper pieces down on the bar. He receives in return, several books of matches. Taking the books and an ash tray to a table with the women just off to the side. He then begins to indulge in a little habit of his. He lights a match throws it into an empty eye socket and let's it run its course before removing the burnt out stick and starting over. He'd been giving a great deal of focus to giving off warmth rather than eating heat and chilling the air around him. This has been a slow strain on his fire reserves without any replenishment. Now was as good a time as any to heat up a bit.

[The Bandicoot]

Flarg peers at the judges before him and a thought pops into his head. His acoustic guitar changes to an electric one in a puff of smoke and he tunes it quickly. Deity, Magtok, funky looking pixie giant thing he thinks to himself. He strums the strings once, the music sounding as if its coming from an invisible amp.

He then launches headlong into a complex disco/soul/funk song. There are no words to this song, but the notes bring to mind images of enjoyment and dancing. As he gets a minute or so into the song small flickering lights start to appear. They flash between multiple bright colors and seem to be moving to the music. By now Flarg's hands are flying across the fretboard as the songs melody and harmony get more and more intricate. By the time the song ends the air around him is absolutely full of the dancing lights.

The lights fade away as Flarg looks up I apologize if the lights bothered anyone. My instrument sometimes has a mind of its own.

[The Bushranger]

"I woudl certainly enjoy the chance to enjoy flight," Rhyan says, almost wistfully, giving Winguardia a smile.

[Lady Serpentine]

"Alright, Raril." Phity-Plat says. Even as rebellious and disrespectful as the elf may be, he knows someone who runs this type of place never had to prove himself. The Den had a Rep after all.

The others though...

Plat gives them a slight, yet extremely arrogant, smirk. "Alright, go ahead and start. Ya'll saw me already, so ya know what ya're up against."

Once Flarg has played his piece, Lellienth sits down, so that she can use the strange harp properly, and begins to play, and sing. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am-_fHpiTAQ)

As she does, anyone listening, unless they're immune/resistant to illusions, should find that they seem to be in a small clearing, in a dark wood, at night. In the center of said clearing is a large tree, hung with swords, and beryls set into rings and necklaces, under which Lellienth sits, though she seems to be a normal elf instead of a drow, and would seem to be crying as she sings, though it doesn't affect the sound.


"Weight is the main factor, yes. Though aerodynamics play a part." she smiles at the young vampire's eagerness. "I'm thinking that while I could not take off with the weight of another, nor gain altitude... I could glide. It would be like hang gliding. Now there is an idea! We ought to to find a place to rent some equipment and go hang-gliding. I will need to earn some money first though."

She turns to the others in their little group. "Would you all find that fun?"

Sevet's hasty exit, since it came so soon after Winguardia stood up, would likely have been what she picked up on. After all, Siri is pretty conspicuous when she's not trying to hide, and since he's a skeleton, most uses of the back rooms, except for business deals, are out - especially since he came out this soon after he went back.

In any case, Mayhala nods, smile widening a bit.

"That would be enjoyable, yes... Siri, can you think of anyone who might hire someone to find you for some reason?"

[LadyOfWar]

Hearing her friend's replies, Winguardia nods. "Well then, it's decided. Our next adventure will be hang-gliding. We'll just need to find a fast way to turn a buck so we can afford to rent the equipment." she looks excited. "You all are in for a world of fun!"

She pauses to clap for the last performer in the battle of musicians that is going on across the bar from them.

She leans closer to Mayhala, to hear her comment about someone searching for her. "MMmm... A few. Yes. Why?" Her strangely dark eyes scan the crowd in the bar, and the tension that Alysha's hug had knocked out of her wings, returns.

[The Bushranger]

Rhyan grins and looks almost uncharacteristally eager....but then returns to seriousness as the conversation takes a less-lighthearted turn. And listens.

[Lady Serpentine]

"That guy over there," she says, indicating Sevet with a subtle movement of her head, "disappeared into the back awfully fast when he saw you stand up. And he's a skeleton; it's not like he's going to be doing some sort of drug, or meeting a girl there. Which leaves business. Only, most times I've seen, it takes a bit longer than he was back there to come to an agreement on prices and such. But the timing is just about right for him to have Sent to someone that he'd found you, along with any other relevant information, and get back instructions the same way."

[LadyOfWar]

Winguardia listens closely to Mayhala, leaning in closely to hear her over the beautiful music that fills the bar. When the other woman is finished, Winguardia sighs. She looks annoyed.

The woman with enormous wings glances over at the skeleton and his little match tricks. She is very careful not to stare, or give any indication she is more interested in him than in other patrons at the bar.

She keeps having to blink and shake her head to get rid of the small shreds of the illusion that tickle the edges of her vision. She is resistant to magic, but not completely immune. Normally she'd enjoy a beautiful illusion, so it is more effective than something she would normally fight.

[Hattish Thing]

Now is it my turn monsieur?

[Zefir]

The door through the bar opens and through the entrace comes a male human person in. the person is wearing a lab coat and looks around, befor he heads for the bar to order a drink.

[The Bushranger]

"...a skeleton, you say?"
Rhyan frowns, looking thoughtful.
"...it's possible that, if he is a foe, I could be of assistiance in subduing him."

[UncleWolf]

Phity-Plat nods to the last person to go before it was his turn. "Go right ahead." Thus far, while he was impressed by the elf's singing and illusion-craft, he didn't consider Flarg to be a real contender, but he wasn't the one who's thoughts mattered.

That honor belonged to the judges.

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadier steps in front of the judges. (Thenadier is last I think, right)


An entire musical orchestra booms from a single musicbox. He sings this song with astounding force: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urxk4mveLCw
The song is called Stars. Hes very good.

[LadyOfWar]

When the Elf with a harp finished her song about the sorrow of living forever, Winguardia clapped. By the light in her eyes as she gazed at the singer, the winged woman had connected deeply with the sentiments of the music.

With a look of disappointment that she cannot dwell on the music but must instead focus on yet another trial in her life, Winguardia turns to Rhyan.

She waits for the next song to begin before starting her conversation with the drow woman. The singing will cover their voices so the skeleton will not hear. "How can you help?"

[OrchestraHc]

Oh crap have they noticed me! No... They couldn't have. I'm just one undead, and this bar is full of weirdoes. Oh my gosh she looked this way. No, she looked every which way. Damn perfect Peripheral vision making me paranoid. I may have to bust out the kitten card early. Keep the match trick going for a bit, wait for a break in their conversation. Weird that they talk during the song but whatevs, the musics kind of crap anyway. At the next break in the conversation, he'll approach the table, and say and do nothing until acknowledged.

[Lady Serpentine]

Winguardia listens closely to Mayhala, leaning in closely to hear her over the beautiful music that fills the bar. When the other woman is finished, Winguardia sighs. She looks annoyed.

The woman with enormous wings glances over at the skeleton and his little match tricks. She is very careful not to stare, or give any indication she is more interested in him than in other patrons at the bar.

She keeps having to blink and shake her head to get rid of the small shreds of the illusion that tickle the edges of her vision. She is resistant to magic, but not completely immune. Normally she'd enjoy a beautiful illusion, so it is more effective than something she would normally fight.


"...a skeleton, you say?"
Rhyan frowns, looking thoughtful.
"...it's possible that, if he is a foe, I could be of assistiance in subduing him."


Phity-Plat nods to the last person to go before it was his turn. "Go right ahead." Thus far, while he was impressed by the elf's singing and illusion-craft, he didn't consider Flarg to be a real contender, but he wasn't the one who's thoughts mattered.

That honor belonged to the judges.


Thenadier steps in front of the judges. (Thenadier is last I think, right)


An entire musical orchestra booms from a single musicbox. He sings this song with astounding force: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urxk4mveLCw
The song is called Stars. Hes very good.


When the Elf with a harp finished her song about the sorrow of living forever, Winguardia clapped. By the light in her eyes as she gazed at the singer, the winged woman had connected deeply with the sentiments of the music.

With a look of disappointment that she cannot dwell on the music but must instead focus on yet another trial in her life, Winguardia turns to Rhyan.

She waits for the next song to begin before starting her conversation with the drow woman. The singing will cover their voices so the skeleton will not hear. "How can you help?"

Lellienth isn't trying to break through barriers, so Winguardia should be able to shrug off the illusion easily enough.

When the winged woman claps, the drowess smiles at her, and nods in acknowledgement, making a note to talk to her after the results of the competition, if possible.

Mayhala, for now, simply waits, though her eyes - which are a deep, almost black (and easy to mistake for it in this light), purple, with darker flecks and swirls moving through them - flick up to Sevet when he approaches. But she's careful to not scrutinize him more than she is everyone besides her companions, that is, coldly, and closely, but not terribly lingeringly.

[KerfuffleMach2]

Alysha listens intently to the new topic. She didn't like the sound of it. It sounded like a fight could break out. And she hated fighting.

However, if it things did come down to a fight, she would very much protect her new friends. Her Reflect spell would be very handy.

When Sevet finally decides to come over, Alysha displays a lack of subtlety by waving to him like she would anybody else.

Hi! I'm Alysha! I've never met a skeleton before. What's it like being one? Do you have to eat? Do you sleep? Do you have other abilities? How can you see without eyes? Or hear without ears? Actually...you might not be able to hear me, now that I think about it. Can you lip read? But wait...if you don't have eyes, you might not be able to anything-read.

Her curious mind might provide some time for her friends to think of something, or take action if needed. Or maybe just throw the skeleton off balance. I mean, odds are good he wasn't expecting that kind of bombardment.

As Alysha speaks, she makes no effort to hide her vampire fangs from him at all.

[OrchestraHc]

"Wow, people aren't normally that friendly," Sevet says in a voice one wouldn't normally expect of a skeleton. It's hoarse and scratchy enough, but there's something... wimpy about it. "In order: Cant really describe it, I've always been this way. Don't eat. Don't sleep. I do have a rune of fire on my forehead that makes me immune to heat. I don't know how I see or hear. I've always just assumed "Magic". And no, I can't lip read. I can regular read though." He does notice the teeth, but he's more worried that the boss is going to kick his ass for misinformation than having his nonexistant blood stolen.

"Now, uh," he says awkwardly, "I just got off the phone with my boss at the animal shelter a bit ago. And I been contemplating this for a bit. I know this isn't the place for something like this but..." he reaches into his robes and pulls out a little black kitten. "Would you guys be willing to adopt a kitten?"

[KerfuffleMach2]

...Uh-oh...

Winguardia and the others have quickly lost the attention of Alysha.

The vampire's eyes somehow get wider than ever, and she lets out a squeal of delight.

Kitty! Can I pet it? Please please please please?

[Lady Serpentine]

Mayhala frowns, eyebrows raising. His story's got several holes in it, like why is he carting a kitten around, and offering it to random strangers?

"And we were picked for this why? We've never seen you before in our lives. And why are you running about with a kitten? Shouldn't it be in the shelter?"

Sevet might notice what looks like the end of a thin rope made of shadows slip out of Mayhala's sleeve, so that it dangles down into her hand, and the rate at which bits of shadows are being drawn to her increase.

[OrchestraHc]

"Yes, you can pet the kitten." Sevet says as he sets the cat down on the table. "I picked you guys because you seemed like the least horrific people here. And that reaction," he points at Alysha, "kinda proves me right. As for why I'm carrying it, we're shutting down, and it was my job to find homes for the kittens. I had a whole box of them at trog's earlier. If you'll take that little guy off my hands, then I'll be done." There's a bit of sadness in his voice. He'll really miss that imaginary animal shelter. If he notices the shadows he isn't showing it. He can't really do much to defend himself beyond running away or attempting to roast them alive, neither wise choices.

[The Bushranger]

Rhyan would answer Winguardia, but then the skeleton in question has approached the table, and she figured her answer would be awkward, so she gives her companion a 'later' look...

...then suddenly.

Cats.

On the table.

Rhyan sneezes!

[KerfuffleMach2]

Alysha will quickly bring the kitten into her arms and start snuggling it, seemingly oblivious to everything else around her.

Yep...she's gone...

[Mina Kobold]

Flarg's peering glance catches the Pixie judge's eyes and he helpfully fades down to normal. The fading quite noticeably revealing the trick to be an illusion.

Nodding along to the groovy tones of the first song, Lewis watches the light show eagerly before enthusiastically applauding the guitarist with the magical guitar.


As the second song begins and Lellienth enters the stage with her illusion, Lewis listens along carefully while as he studies the illusion.

While the Pixie kind of Lewis' world feel only short sorrow for what they lose, albeit Lewis is determined to judge fairly regardless, the song still impresses the colourfully clad trickster with the sound and its interplay with the illusion alone.

After a hearty applause, the winged judge notes down a few notes about the two first singers before Thenadier starts.


Thenadier's song is not bad at all either, the style creating an interesting contrast to the visual involvement and instruments of the previous contenders.

After giving Thenadier's song a well-deserved applause as well, the Pixie awaits Phity-Plat's closing performance eagerly.

[Shadowcaller]

An purple skinned with elf enters the den, she's dressed in a hardened leather tunic and carries two scimitars on her back. Her light purple hair is cut into a pixie haircut with no need to be set up.

Perhaps her most prominent features however is her well build body and her pupil less eyes which seems to glow within the relative darkness of the tavern.
She slumps down at a nearby desk and orders in plain water.
This elf doesn't exactly look like the kind of person who let's out even for a little bit as she spends most of her time suspiciously watch her surroundings as if they were going to attack her any minute now.

[Zefir]

An purple skinned with elf enters the den, she's dressed in a hardened leather tunic and carries two scimitars on her back. Her light purple hair is cut into a pixie haircut with no need to be set up.

Perhaps her most prominent features however is her well build body and her pupil less eyes which seems to glow within the relative darkness of the tavern.
She slumps down at a nearby desk and orders in plain water.
This elf doesn't exactly look like the kind of person who let's out even for a little bit as she spends most of her time suspiciously watch her surroundings as if they were going to attack her any minute now.

After a while a tall man wearing a lab coat will try to sit on her table. After all eh looks neat a bit strange for such a location, since the Den seems to have a more evil visitors.

"Hello there." he first tries, hopin she won't tear him apart. On a note he doesn't wear any kind ofweapon.

[happyturtle]

Alley Outside

There's a rat in the alley, just outside. It had been scrabbling through the trash like the other rats, but then the music started.

The rat began to remember that it wasn't a rat, but an elf.

And the skinchanger returns to his natural form.

Inside

Gideon walks inside to have a meal and listen to more of the music. He had mastered another another form - he had eight of them now - but he was ready to spend some time as a person.

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/7055/tek4f1d71ce4015d2654666.png (http://tektek.org/avatar/47961977)

[Lady Serpentine]

"Yes, you can pet the kitten." Sevet says as he sets the cat down on the table. "I picked you guys because you seemed like the least horrific people here. And that reaction," he points at Alysha, "kinda proves me right. As for why I'm carrying it, we're shutting down, and it was my job to find homes for the kittens. I had a whole box of them at trog's earlier. If you'll take that little guy off my hands, then I'll be done." There's a bit of sadness in his voice. He'll really miss that imaginary animal shelter. If he notices the shadows he isn't showing it. He can't really do much to defend himself beyond running away or attempting to roast them alive, neither wise choices.

Mayhala nearly laughs. Nearly. Two vampires, one of whom is half-phoenix, a sadistic spirit that feeds on the life released by killing someone before they reach the point where they'd have died naturally, and a half-drow are the least horrific people here? Not that he has any way to know that she's got something like that tied to her soul, admittedly, but she still finds it amusing.

"What exactly makes us that? Surely the elf that was just singing, for example, is less horrific than a pair of vampires, even if one of them is a hyper-friendly ball of cheerfulness - which you had no way to know before you came over. And why leave Trog's for here?"

[Shadowcaller]

After a while a tall man wearing a lab coat will try to sit on her table. After all eh looks neat a bit strange for such a location, since the Den seems to have a more evil visitors.

"Hello there." he first tries, hopin she won't tear him apart. On a note he doesn't wear any kind ofweapon.

The elf raises an eyebrow as he approaches, "What do you want?" She demands. Not very social is she?

[OrchestraHc]

Sevet does laugh. "Ha," see? Kinda creepy how he pulls his head back but still didn't move his jaw. "I didnt know you were vamps, either, I just saw a few girls hanging out at a tavern," he says with a shrug. "One of you has bloomin' angel wings for cripes sake. And if you must know, I was gonna keep that one for myself, but the boss says "No, the undead abomination can't have a kitty." Jerk." He crosses his arms in a huff. He then turns his head to face Mayhala. "What's the deal with the third degree, anyway?" A touch of offense enters his voice.

[Zefir]

The elf raises an eyebrow as he approaches, "What do you want?" She demands. Not very social is she?

Not social? For Andy she is the most social woman he met the last days. The other tried to kill him or start an onion revolution.

"Just wanted to talk a bit, since most people here seem to be distracted on this contest."

[happyturtle]

((What about Pansy? She had a perfectly nice conversation with him. :smalltongue:))

Gideon gets a meal and sits at the bar to eat it, hoping for some more music.

[Lady Serpentine]

Sevet does laugh. "Ha," see? Kinda creepy how he pulls his head back but still didn't move his jaw. "I didnt know you were vamps, either, I just saw a few girls hanging out at a tavern," he says with a shrug. "One of you has bloomin' angel wings for cripes sake. And if you must know, I was gonna keep that one for myself, but the boss says "No, the undead abomination can't have a kitty." Jerk." He crosses his arms in a huff. He then turns his head to face Mayhala. "What's the deal with the third degree, anyway?" A touch of offense enters his voice.

She shrugs.

"It's just a touch suspicious, in some ways. I want to make sure you're doing what you say you are. For example, where I'm from, animals are used to carry curses and transfer them to people you have a problem with fairly often. Can I have the number of the animal shelter, please?"

[Shadowcaller]

"I'm not much for small talk." The elf admits in a strained voice, sounds she have some problems talking. "Just passing through." She shrugs.

[LadyOfWar]

Alysha has exactly the reaction that Sevet’s boss had hoped Winguardia would have. Only Alysha’s response is magnified about 1000-fold because… well… probably because she’s Alysha and it is what she does. One would have to check with Kerfuffle to confirm that.

With the kitten-cuddling position being hogged by the happy hyper vampire the winged hybrid vampire has time to analyze this situation.

First, she nods to Rhyan, understanding the ‘pick up that thought later’ look very clearly.

Next she pauses to think. She fixes her eyes firmly on the skeleton. At this distance they are completely black with very little white sclera visible on the edges and have an odd slowly swirling sheen to them, like an oil slick on the pavement in July. Her stare is HIGHLY unnerving when she wants it to be.

Mayhala is buying her time to put ten and ten together and come up with something very near twenty. The subtle changes in her expression as she contemplates this situation cannot bode well for the skeleton.

Of course, it is also buying the skeleton EXACTLY what he wants: time. His boss should almost be here by now. Sevet will not have to endure this much longer.

Finally she gives Mayhala a VERY appreciative gaze. One would conclude she is not accustomed to having others come to her defense, and is grateful and slightly caught off-guard. Yet, a knowing glint is in her eyes. She's just had a mental breakthrough. She places one hand on Mayhala’s arm, a gentle gesture asking her to back down just a little. Then her eyes flick to the exits, to Mayhala, then to the exits again. It's subtle, but she thinks the shadow-user will get the message: watch the doors.

“In our boney friend’s defense, Alysha looks like a cute kid, not a blood-sucking vampire. No offence Alysha.” She adds the last sentence even though she’s pretty sure it won’t break through the cute-zone.

Then her eyes return to the skeleton, her gaze as spine-chilling as ever. That is one thing he DOES have.
“Sit down, please.” She motions to the bench across from her. “And do tell me more about your boss. It is terribly cruel of him not to allow you to keep the little fuzzy. What does he look like?”

Only seconds now... mere seconds... and Sevet will have bought his new boss the six minutes time he wanted.

[Zefir]

"I'm not much for small talk." The elf admits in a strained voice, sounds she have some problems talking. "Just passing through." She shrugs.

"Passing through means you got a point you came from and a goal to go to. Or in a small way you maybe new here in the nexus."

Andy don't want to force her or is making atemtions. he just tries to find a theme she could talk about.

[The Bushranger]

Rhyan, meanwhile...edges away from Alysha+cat.
And sneezes again.
Grabbing a napkin from the table and pressing it to her nose, as her eyes start to water.

"I...sorry..."

SNEEZE!

"...allergic to cats..."

[Lady Serpentine]

Alysha has exactly the reaction that Sevet’s boss had hoped Winguardia would have. Only Alysha’s response is magnified about 1000-fold because… well… probably because she’s Alysha and it is what she does. One would have to check with Kerfuffle to confirm that.

With the kitten-cuddling position being hogged by the happy hyper vampire the winged hybrid vampire has time to analyze this situation.

First, she nods to Rhyan, understanding the ‘pick up that thought later’ look very clearly.

Next she pauses to think. She fixes her eyes firmly on the skeleton. At this distance they are completely black with very little white sclera visible on the edges and have an odd slowly swirling sheen to them, like an oil slick on the pavement in July. Her stare is HIGHLY unnerving when she wants it to be.

Mayhala is buying her time to put ten and ten together and come up with something very near twenty. The subtle changes in her expression as she contemplates this situation cannot bode well for the skeleton.

Of course, it is also buying the skeleton EXACTLY what he wants: time. His boss should almost be here by now. Sevet will not have to endure this much longer.

Finally she gives Mayhala a VERY appreciative gaze. One would conclude she is not accustomed to having others come to her defense, and is grateful and slightly caught off-guard. Yet, a knowing glint is in her eyes. She's just had a mental breakthrough. She places one hand on Mayhala’s arm, a gentle gesture asking her to back down just a little. Then her eyes flick to the exits, to Mayhala, then to the exits again. It's subtle, but she thinks the shadow-user will get the message: watch the doors.

“In our boney friend’s defense, Alysha looks like a cute kid, not a blood-sucking vampire. No offence Alysha.” She adds the last sentence even though she’s pretty sure it won’t break through the cute-zone.

Then her eyes return to the skeleton, her gaze as spine-chilling as ever. That is one thing he DOES have.
“Sit down, please.” She motions to the bench across from her. “And do tell me more about your boss. It is terribly cruel of him not to allow you to keep the little fuzzy. What does he look like?”

Only seconds now... mere seconds... and Sevet will have bought his new boss the six minutes time he wanted.

Mayhala nods just enough to confirm she understood, and shifts her gaze to the doors, the thin shadow-rope around her wrist detaching, and teleporting over to them, so that it can act as a tripwire, if needed.

[OrchestraHc]

Alysha has exactly the reaction that Sevet’s boss had hoped Winguardia would have. Only Alysha’s response is magnified about 1000-fold because… well… probably because she’s Alysha and it is what she does. One would have to check with Kerfuffle to confirm that.

With the kitten-cuddling position being hogged by the happy hyper vampire the winged hybrid vampire has time to analyze this situation.

First, she nods to Rhyan, understanding the ‘pick up that thought later’ look very clearly.

Next she pauses to think. She fixes her eyes firmly on the skeleton. At this distance they are completely black with very little white sclera visible on the edges and have an odd slowly swirling sheen to them, like an oil slick on the pavement in July. Her stare is HIGHLY unnerving when she wants it to be.

Mayhala is buying her time to put ten and ten together and come up with something very near twenty. The subtle changes in her expression as she contemplates this situation cannot bode well for the skeleton.

Of course, it is also buying the skeleton EXACTLY what he wants: time. His boss should almost be here by now. Sevet will not have to endure this much longer.

Finally she gives Mayhala a VERY appreciative gaze. One would conclude she is not accustomed to having others come to her defense, and is grateful and slightly caught off-guard. Yet, a knowing glint is in her eyes. She's just had a mental breakthrough. She places one hand on Mayhala’s arm, a gentle gesture asking her to back down just a little. Then her eyes flick to the exits, to Mayhala, then to the exits again. It's subtle, but she thinks the shadow-user will get the message: watch the doors.

“In our boney friend’s defense, Alysha looks like a cute kid, not a blood-sucking vampire. No offence Alysha.” She adds the last sentence even though she’s pretty sure it won’t break through the cute-zone.

Then her eyes return to the skeleton, her gaze as spine-chilling as ever. That is one thing he DOES have.
“Sit down, please.” She motions to the bench across from her. “And do tell me more about your boss. It is terribly cruel of him not to allow you to keep the little fuzzy. What does he look like?”

Only seconds now... mere seconds... and Sevet will have bought his new boss the six minutes time he wanted.

It's a good thing Sevet has literally no outward display of emotion. Those looks would easily have a fleshier version of him quaking and stuttering. But alas, he only shows what he wants seen. He's certainly terrified but they'd never know it. "Why, thank you." He says taking the seat. "It was rather cruel of him wasn't it. I you'd like to know what he looks like, he's a middle age man, portly, neck beard." Oh, I'm sorry, was she expecting a description of the boss? Sevet has had plenty of bad bosses to draw from. "Total slave driver, but the good of the job outweighed his fat mouth. Now that the shelter's gone, I'm stuck with him."

[KerfuffleMach2]

Winguardia's suspicions are correct. Alysha has gone too deep into the cute-zone for mere conversation to grab her attention now.

However, she has moved to sit on the floor, legs sprawled out, so she can play with the kitten better. This may help Rhyan's allergies some, since the kitten is a little further away.

Alysha seems to be enjoying herself, at least.

[UncleWolf]

Phity-Plat looks over the finished contestants and twists his neck to pop it. "A'ight then, its time to git down."

The elf strides to the center of the room, taking a look around. His hands begin to glow softly with white light and all other sounds begin to die down by magic. He closes his eyes and twists his cap, causing a slow and heavy beat in the air, corresponding to his heart.

His eyes still closed, he throws out his arms before bringing his hands in front of himself as if he had a turntable in front of him. His body begins to rock to the beat, hands steady, but with a sudden twist of his wrists the light shoots from his hands to suffuse the Den. When his eyes open, they glow dimly white and he looks directly at Michicora as he starts singing to her. His words are slow but match the rhythm.

"Couple weeks back, I was walkin' in Red
3a.m., earla mornin', ever'one in bed.
Caught a glimpse of a dame
Didn' think nuthin' an' kept goin' down the lane."

After his first stanza, he falls to his knees in front of Michicora, looking like he's nearly begging. His distraught expression is completely at odds with his original attitude as he continues to sing to the elf.

"Days later, I saw ya again, lookin' ya best
Ya was walkin the street, wearin' ya cute l'il dress
You and ya raven hair standin' above the rest
An' there I was, just gapin' at you.
Mah heart started poundin', cryin' out in need
Head was ringin', a warning I just couldn't heed
Spine started shakin', makin' me fall to ma knee
Ya cold look tore right through me, like some sorta voodoo."

Phity-Plat says it all to Michicora, holding his hands close to his chest, as if holding in his heart, keeping it from leaping out of him as he looks up at her with pleading eyes.

"Ya took my heart, wanted ya to be my girl.
When ya said no, ya ripped it out and gave it a hurl.
Ya rejection hit me like a pendulum on a bell,
Ripped out mah soul and sent it straight to hell."

Slowly, Phity-Plat gets to his feet turning his back on the elf with a look of hurt and disgust, turning his back to her and giving a dismissive gesture. His head is low, as he takes a couple steps and he looks around the Den.

"I tried to forgit her, for days I did
But every time, thought of her came from where it hid
Ev'ra step I took meant three back my mind had slid.
I knew I'd git over her, but there was no tellin' when.
But then jus' last week, I saw her again on the street
My eyes drank her in, takin' all they could eat
I knew right then, once more we had ta meet.
I got down on mah knees and begged once again."

"Ya took my heart, wanted ya to be my girl.
When ya said no, ya ripped it out and gave it a hurl.
Ya rejection hit me like a pendulum on a bell,
Ripped out mah soul and sent it straight to hell."

By the time he gets to his chorus again, he's once more on his knees in the middle of his little clearing, looking up at Michicora forlornly. He obviously needed her, completely lost in her beauty and grace, swept away by the sheer force of her presence.

"Today, seeing ya here, I have to ask
I need to hear your answer, to give me one last chance.
I've stripped away my pride, stripped away my mask
Milady, if you'd give me one final answer, what is ya stance?"

The elf looks up at her hopefully, offering her his empty hand for her to take.

"Last time ya 'jection hit me like a bell.
Ya ripped out mah soul and sent it packin' ta hell.
Ya last couple answers haven' been too swell.
What's ya answer Milady? Please, pray tell."

With his last stanza, the beat begins to die off till just a quiet and nervous heartbeat could be heard as Phity-Plat awaits his answer from the complete stranger. Regardless of what it is, he can't help but think this is one of his better performances.

[LadyOfWar]

“I’m sorry, dear.” She tells Rhyan. The ‘dear’ is said in a tone used with a friend, and is there to avoid telling anyone in hearing Rhyan’s name. She only called Alysha by name because the girl had already loudly introduced herself. “Maybe step out for a little fresh air? If you thought the city skyline was pretty by moonlight it is probably even better by day. Pity I can’t see it for myself… oh, you could describe it for me?” Odd... I don't remember Rhyan enjoying the skyline last night...

She isn't sending Rhyan out into an ambush, and she knows it, because the skeleton wasn't here long enough to have observed her interacting with the drow necromancer. If he is here to watch Winguardia, he couldn't have called anything about Rhyan in to his boss.

Attention returns to the skeleton again.

An accurate description of Sevet’s real boss? No, no, she was hardly expecting that. She merely wishes to get him talking. Most of the tells she would usually rely on are missing in this fleshless skeleton, so she focuses on the cadence of his voice. Since he’s describing a real person who truly was his boss at one point, his words lack most of the infinitesimal pauses one employs when spinning a lie from scratch. Reading human emotions is one of her specialties, but it isn’t working well on this undead.

“So you’re looking for a new boss and a little coin. Same here. You shouldn’t be stuck with him….” Her voice trails off as she allows herself to be distracted by the ongoing musical performance.

“Quite the performer that kid is, yes?” she says to the skeleton, pointing in the direction of the fellow on his knees singing his heart out.

Wing is sitting on a bench with her back to the wall. The skeleton is sitting across from her. This means that with her simple motion toward the performance she is trying to get him to turn and look away from her.

Meanwhile, outside, a man with enormous wings has just landed on the rooftop of an adjacent warehouse. His long hooded cape keeps the sun off of his skin and casts his face into impenetrable shadow.

[happyturtle]

Gideon is entranced by the music, all rhythm and no melody, reminding him of the tribal chants he'd grown up with. This was more mature though, more evolved in a way he didn't understand, for the skinchanger had never heard of metrical lines.

He sits and watches Michicora with bated breath, hoping she won't turn down her talented admirer, and completely unaware that the performance was part of a musical competition and had thus been for the judges and audience rather than for the girl.

[OrchestraHc]

"Looking? Nah, I'm stuck with him til a better gig presents itself or he croaks." Sevet explains, and truthfully no less. "Minion's gotta have rules."

At mention of the rapper he does turn his head, no idea he's being duped, but only for a moment. "I wasn't really paying attention to him. rap's not my thing."

[Shadowcaller]

"Been here before." Michicora replies briefly before the music starts around them.

Part of the reason her replies are so short is that she's paying more attention to their surroundings and potential threats then the conversation itself.
The rappers look at her doesn't catch her attention right away but she quickly realizes he's actually singing to her.

As he strides closer she have a hard time putting him into a good category, potential threat? Civilian? Assassin?

Once Plat holds his arms against his chest she take a look around the rest of the tavern, starting to getting nervous. Was everyone staring at them right now? Was this some sort of trick?

As he steps towards her again she can't really help but to blush. What in Kouri's name was all this about? She should probably have left there but the thought never really struck her behind as she suddenly felt very lightheaded. This had never happened before, she was completely out of her element here.

Who was this strange man and why in the void was he singing to her in that odd voice?!

The huntress felt the panic building inside, she had no idea what to do, what to say. She just wanted to escape.

Once Plat kneels in front of her he can probably tell she's rather nervous by the fact she's blushing and looks like she want to be anywhere else right now.
An awkward silence will follow as Michciora desperately attempts to warp her head around the situation.
Finally she figures it must be some sort of act, a joke and bends down whispering, "Wha-what am I supposed to say?"

[The Bushranger]

Rhyan nods to Winguardia, and takes a deep breath, guessing at the hidden meaning behind her friend's words.
"That sounds like a good idea. Thank you."
She smiles, sneezes again, then stands to head outside and scan the skyline.

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadier stomps his cane on the floor and stares into the judges face with his spiteful emotionless face.

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]
Rhyan will be met with a bright sky, sunlight pouring down between the aging warehouses and melting the fresh snowfall from the night before. Should her eyes promptly fly to the rooftops, she will just catch sight of a dark and slightly larger than man-sized figure ducking behind the housing of a cooling unit on top of an adjacent warehouse roof. The size and shape may give her a bit of déjà vu… if she thinks hard enough, she might place that feeling as arising from her first glimpse of Winguardia the night before.

[Inside the BDD]
The word ‘Minion’ makes Winguardia’s glare intensify, but it is as if she is not looking at the skeleton anymore, instead she is looking past him at her mental image of the man who hired him.

The instant the boney fellow looks away…

Winguardia slides her hand over the back of her neck, then quickly writes a few words on the rough table in a slick of oil.



Can U Track him?

She tilts her head toward the skeleton to clarify who she means by ‘him.’ The message is meant for Mayhala, who is sitting beside her. She wipes the oil away with her hand immediately. She only gave Mayhala an instant to read the words.


The moment Sevet turns back to her, Winguardia begins speaking to him once more, though her eyes are still seething and focused beyond him.

“No shelter owner has a Minion. Drop the act. This means my friend’s assessment is correct, you were spying on me. It all fits. My affinity for felines is well known, you were told to try this tactic. And no Celestial would take a ‘Minion’. Ever. So you have just told me who your boss is.” She pauses.

Her eyes focus on the skeleton again and her gaze softens. It becomes kind. If he looks at her eyes they may seem to envelop his entire field of vision as she continues to speak. There is no magic involved, she simply has arresting eyes.

“You held that kitten like it meant something to you. I’ve never seen an evil creature appreciate small animals. You are not evil.” Another pause. “If your boss is the man I think he is… then he is evil."

She waits to see his response to all of this.

[UncleWolf]

Phity-Plat offers Michicora a sly smile. "Ya don't need to say anything if ya don' want to. Just a song." He whispers back before standing and fixing his hat. "Thanks. If your interested, I don't mind leaving with ya after the judges give their verdict." He says with a smirk.

[Zefir]

Andy just sits next to her and sights. He wasn't really going to court her, but it's sad to be alone again. After all he won't say anything.

[The Bushranger]

[Outside the Door]

Ryhan frowns, and (not for the first time) wishes she knew more Diviniation...but as it is, her eyes remain fixed on the cooling unit. As she frowns.

[OrchestraHc]

Sevet's focus is pretty entranced on her eyes. He needs to say something, anything to keep the charade going, but it's too late. "I paused too long." he let the surprise get to him. "Any excuse out of my mouth would be taken as a lie. Damn. Though to be fair, 'Minion' is my word. How I identify myself. Boss uses 'apprentice'." He tries not to comment on the cat thing, but he has an insatiable urge to make something clear. "You can't keep that cat by the way. It's mine." He pulls out a book of matches, strikes one, and tosses it into his eye socket, just to break eye contact. "How long has it been since I came out of the back? I lost count."

[Lord Magtok]

"Hrm..."

Judge Maggy frowns thoughtfully, sticking a finger in one of the curls of his enormous powdered wig. He's normally not much of a rap person, and he tends to hate those slimy elves with a fiery passion, but that was a pretty awesome display put on by Phity-Plat. Of course, the Electric Guitar Disco Soul Funk that Flarg showed off was pretty nifty, too. Thenadier's song was also quite stylish, but he's going to have to take a point or two off because it wasn't quite as original as the rest. Oh, and that one elf lady with the harp? Fudge her and her silly ancient medieval primitive monkey music. It sounds pretty and graceful, but it just goes on for far longer than Magtok's anywhere near comfortable sitting through. It takes a while before he finally comes to a decision for his scores, but he finally does so, and awards them as follows.


Phity-Plat's Performance

A solid 9.


Thenadier's Song

An 8.5


Flarg's Electric Guitar Disco Soul Funk

A 9.5


Lellienth's Fancy Harp Playing

Another 8.5

Of course, whether or not the other judges see things the same way remains to be seen. This is still anyone's contest for now!

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadier nods at the ridiculously wigged Magtok.

[Shadowcaller]

Great, after all suggestions both from her father and her friends about her seeing someone a man suddenly came up to her and asked, with a song no less.
She really had no interest in social connections since they made her feel uncomfortable but she couldn't really say no to her fathers urging when they came up right to her.
She wanted to sink through the ground and never be seen again rather then this to happen but despite her feelings she felt compelled to at least try. That's what her father wanted her to do.

"Yes... sure." She weakly attempts to smile.

Kouri save her.

[Ashen Lilies]

Unfortunately, Muse seems to have been spending the entire competition dozing in his reversed chair, eyes closed, leaning dangerously forwards on the two back legs, hovering on the verge of tipping. Mercutio coughs discretely, and the god wakes up abruptly, chair falling back onto all four legs with a sharp clack.
"H'h? Wha'? S'competition over'lready?" Says Muse blearily, rubbing his heavily lidded eyes into a bloodshot pinkness.
"Okay, so judging time, I guess. You'll excuse me if I don't do the whole 'numbers' thing. Math was never a strength of mine. I'd get to about four, and then forget whether nine or thirteen came next. Or was it fifty-three? Anyway."
He points at Thenadier first.
"You, just suck. Cribbing Les Miserables? Fail. Get lost."
He points to Lellienth next.
"You also suck, but get credit for the illusion work. Very nice. So that evens out to a solid 'meh', I think."
Then the elf rapper with the ridiculous name that Muse's player refuses to type out in case it negatively impacts his IQ.
"You... I've never actually heard that before. And I've heard everything, which means that it was an original composition. It also made my assistant here want to claw his ears out..." Mercutio grimaces. "...but luckily I'm the one judging it, not him, which means you get bonus points for your creativity, even though you only seem to have a rudimentary grasp of what 'language', 'rhythm', 'structure' and 'melody' are."
Then finally Flarg.
"And you... original composition and sparkly lights? I'd ask you to marry me, but I think my assistant would get upset." Cue said assistant looking at Muse askance.
"So uh... that's it, I think." Muse frowns for a second.
"No wait, that's not how you do it."
"Uh... BEHOLD. I HAVE SPOKEN." Proclaims Muse somewhat more impressively, though it's somewhat undercut by the laughably feeble thunderclap accompanying it.

[Mina Kobold]

Lewis looks carefully at the contestants, evaluating their performances mentally and with greater seriousness than when fighting exploding golems.

Flarg's show had been quite a groovy piece of music, the simple light effects complementing the style very well, but Thenadier had been much original for the competition, although the Pixie judge didn't recognise the source material.
Then again, Lellienth's illusion had been very spectacular, quite impressive and very fitting for the song. Which was a good nostalgic song as well.

Phity-Plat's music took the price for showmanship and originality, however. Lewis suspected the mysterious new genre was common in the Nexus, reminding him of fighting the man and enormous sunglasses, but that did not stop it from being very well done!

Finally, the chippy trickster snaps his fingers and summons a series of large illusory tophats to hover above the contestants' heads.

"I have spoken as well! You may behold or be harmonious, but we prefer both!"

The hats show the relevant numbers for the judging in colourful text, jumping about to show itself off to the onlookers with a cheerful jingle.

Flarg: 9!

Thenadier: 8.5!

Lellienth: 10!

Phity-Plat: 9.5!

[The Bandicoot]

So I have a 9.5..... a 9..... and a "marry me"...... I believe me and Mr. Flat here are tied. he scratches his chin and shrugs. A tie? A tie breaker? I am fine with either or. Though I'd prefer the tie breaker.

[Lady Serpentine]

The word ‘Minion’ makes Winguardia’s glare intensify, but it is as if she is not looking at the skeleton anymore, instead she is looking past him at her mental image of the man who hired him.

The instant the boney fellow looks away…

Winguardia slides her hand over the back of her neck, then quickly writes a few words on the rough table in a slick of oil.



She tilts her head toward the skeleton to clarify who she means by ‘him.’ The message is meant for Mayhala, who is sitting beside her. She wipes the oil away with her hand immediately. She only gave Mayhala an instant to read the words.


The moment Sevet turns back to her, Winguardia begins speaking to him once more, though her eyes are still seething and focused beyond him.

“No shelter owner has a Minion. Drop the act. This means my friend’s assessment is correct, you were spying on me. It all fits. My affinity for felines is well known, you were told to try this tactic. And no Celestial would take a ‘Minion’. Ever. So you have just told me who your boss is.” She pauses.

Her eyes focus on the skeleton again and her gaze softens. It becomes kind. If he looks at her eyes they may seem to envelop his entire field of vision as she continues to speak. There is no magic involved, she simply has arresting eyes.

“You held that kitten like it meant something to you. I’ve never seen an evil creature appreciate small animals. You are not evil.” Another pause. “If your boss is the man I think he is… then he is evil."

She waits to see his response to all of this.


Sevet's focus is pretty entranced on her eyes. He needs to say something, anything to keep the charade going, but it's too late. "I paused too long." he let the surprise get to him. "Any excuse out of my mouth would be taken as a lie. Damn. Though to be fair, 'Minion' is my word. How I identify myself. Boss uses 'apprentice'." He tries not to comment on the cat thing, but he has an insatiable urge to make something clear. "You can't keep that cat by the way. It's [I]mine." He pulls out a book of matches, strikes one, and tosses it into his eye socket, just to break eye contact. "How long has it been since I came out of the back? I lost count."

Mayhala's response forms for a second underneath the table, shadows curling into an elegant script.


I think so.

And then Sevet asks how long its been since he came out, and she laughs, some of the taint Winguardia sensed in her when they first met showing through when she does.

"Whoever you Sent to will get here when they get here. In the meantime, we're not going to tell you how long you have to keep us talking for," she says, grinning cruelly at him, eyes shifting to full blackness, seeming to stretch into an unimaginable distance, as though they're holes connecting directly to the blackness of space, the spirit she bound to her soul fully expressing itself. "Now, who really hired you?"

When she asks this, she tries to look directly into Sevet's sockets; if it works, and the skeleton isn't especially resistant to such things, the colors of the room should begin to fade, almost imperceptibly at first, everything seeming bleak and grey, and he should start to feel there's no point in hiding things from them anymore, that what he's been doing is doomed to failure, and he might as well simply give up, as well as an apathy that should make it extremely unlikely for him to try to resist the effects, or break eye contact with Mayhala.

Though it should be noted that she's still watching the doors, through the shadows around them.

-----------

Meanwhile, Lellienth is trying to figure out just what Muse's scores mean. Thenadier's pretty obviously out, having been given the lowest score by the other two judges and a 'get lost' from the deity, but the others are... less simple, to say the least.

Lellienth has a quite respectable 18.5 from Magtok and Lewis, but what on earth does a 'solid meh' count for? 3? 5? A few points could mean, at least, the difference between third and second place, even if she's almost certainly not going to take first.

Phity-Plat started with an 18.5 as well, but the elf's score, once again, is indefinable - how many bonus points? And what was his original score?

Flarg started off with the same score as the previous two, and a 'marry me' is clearly a ten, which puts him first.

The drowess stands, and steps forward, in front of the judges.

"I'd like to protest the results of the contest. As far as I can tell, it's impossible to work out what half of the people in it scored, which is pretty obviously unfair to them. As such, I request that the contest be re-held, with a... less cryptic... third judge."

[Ashen Lilies]

Mercutio gives an imperceptible sigh, then coughs discretely, hoping to get the attention of the contestants.
"If you require numbers, I believe these ones most accurately reflect my Master's wishes." Says Mercutio, reaching into a pocket of his waistcoat to pull out a series of numbered cards, which he flashes at each of the contestants in turn.
Thenadier gets a 3!
Lellienth gets a 6!
Elf rapper gets a 8!
Flargh gets a 9!

[KerfuffleMach2]

Slowly, Alysha starts paying attention to everybody else again. She notices that Rhyan left, and that there's tension in the air. One hand still holding her Keyblade, and the other still petting the kitten, Alysha watches and listens to her friends and Sevet.

[Lady Serpentine]

Mercutio gives an imperceptible sigh, then coughs discretely, hoping to get the attention of the contestants.
"If you require numbers, I believe these ones most accurately reflect my Master's wishes." Says Mercutio, reaching into a pocket of his waistcoat to pull out a series of numbered cards, which he flashes at each of the contestants in turn.
Thenadier gets a 3!
Lellienth gets a 6!
Elf rapper gets a 8!
Flargh gets a 9!

Lellienth bows to Mercutio.

"That would appear to settle the confusion. I withdraw my request," she says, stepping back.

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadier looks abhorred at his scores.

[UncleWolf]

Phity is about to reply to Michicora when the scores are shown. At first, he frowns, but by the end, he's scowling, obviously bothered, but he'd had to accept what they said. He'd object, call for a rematch and try to beat Flarg in a face-off, but he had a Rep to consider. Gritting his teeth, he turns to him. "What instrument?"

[Darklord Bright]

Unaware of the events that have been going on in the bar for the last little while, a short green woman (http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5453/blargm.png) enters, a glowing staff strapped to her back. Atop her head is a thick bone structure that resembles a tortoise-shell. Her skin is patterned with darker green stripes and swirls, almost like natural tattoos.

She is a Blarg. Not a goblin, a Blarg. There's a difference, no matter how small.

Moving in towards the bar, she isn't quite tall enough to see more than her shell-head and eyes over the counter. Nevertheless, she seems to expect service, demanding a stiff drink before climbing to sit on a stool and looking around the bar.

[Slii Arhem]

Well hey, there's something interesting now isn't there? Junior spots the wee lass (although she's no smaller than himself really) as she heads to the bar, and slips out of his seat. The drorf quickly cuts through the crowd to intercept the Blarg, aiming to surmount the stool beside her just after she's in her own seat.

"Oy thar gobbo, watcher doin' in a place like this'n? Din't think this wassa place fer 'ard folks like yerself." In Junior's opinion, this odd looking goblinoid seems pretty tough, not like most of the patrons in here lately.

Then again, looking at Phity a second time, there were at least a few here that could hold their own. Those drow from earlier, while not exactly the toughest looking things around, at least knew when to start a fight.

You know, maybe Junior ought to re-evaluate his previously held opinions about this joint.

"Oy! A round fer me an' this'n, what'ver she'll ave." Or maybe he'll just flag down one of the goblin servers and offer to buy this new person a drink. Much easier to make friends than introspect.

And hey, since it hasn't been mentioned in awhile, how about a description? Junior stands around 4'4", with deep grey heavily scarred and burned skin that doesn't do his looks any favors. Considering how often and heavily he frowns, scowls and sulks, he probably wasn't much to look at even before his face was roughed up. He's wearing a shirt and a rather heavy black bowler hat, but his pants were recently stolen by a starspawn girl. Thankfully, he's wearing a full body suit of chainmail underneath his clothes, and boxers, just to be safe.

[Darklord Bright]

The blarg gives the drorf an odd look. Firstly, he looks pretty rough around the edges, and secondly he's apparently pantsless. Probably drunk or something.

"Ey?" she responds, "Did you just say I was one of the gobbers?" she doesn't seem to know what to think at the moment, so it's slightly hard to pinpoint the exact emotion she's conveying at the moment. Perhaps she isn't sure herself.

"I'm no gobbers, scarry-one. I've got the skull-thick, and skull-thicks is called Blargs. Gobbers wish they was skull-thicks."

On this slightly confusing note, she taps her skull a couple times with two short clonks. Whatever she is, goblin or 'blarg', she certainly does have an odd way of speaking, which might prove a slight barrier without a taking a few moments of translation.

Oh well, at least she's cute for whatever she is, even if she seems at least as thick as her head-shell.

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]

The black figure does not reappear from behind the cooling unit atop the adjacent warehouse. It stays well hidden. Whatever or whoever it was has no intentions of coming back into view, so the next move is Rhyan’s.

[Inside the BDD]

Winguardia listens closely to Sevet’s words. A sparkle of respect glimmers at the corners of her eyes when the skeleton recognizes his error and takes the bold, straightforward approach instead of trying to lie his way out.

“Apprentice… interesting… he is a Celestial. But that rules out Aerfallon or any other Blade Master…” she muses quietly.

She is about to comment that Sevet will have to break the news about the kitten to Alysha, but the winged woman does not wish to disturb Mayhala’s next tactic. Instead, she waits patiently to see the results.

Pity Sevet lost track of the time. His boss arrived outside exactly at the six minute mark two posts ago. ((Sorry if I hadn’t made that clear :smallredface: ))

[Slii Arhem]

Ah, well that explains a few things. Junior gives the blarg a knowing look, as if he'd expected it was something like that all along.

In reality, he hadn't a clue.

At least the language doesn't seem to be an issue. Junior has had plenty of practice with accents, so a bit of confusing speak isn't going to deter him, "Aye, tha's true enough, yeh look plenny thick from whar ah'm sittin'. Yeh got a name lass? Ah like ta know who ah'm gonna be drinkin' with." It seems like a foregone conclusion to the drorf that this is his next drinking partner. He really only has drinking and fighting to do in this place, and he really doesn't want to fight a cute lass like this one.

Even if she does look like she could take a punch from a pneumatic press and keep on swinging.

[Darklord Bright]

The blarg nods. Sure she's got a name. Everyone has a name, don't they?

"This one's got a name-sound, and it calls her Grotte. Scarry-one can call her Grotte, too, 'else she'll have to head-knock." the blarg replies, prodding herself with her thumb in case he couldn't gather who she was talking about. Not everyone could understand her for some reason. She always thought she was very clear, but sometimes you have to make an effort for those who were a little slow.

Because obviously, that must be the problem, right?

[OrchestraHc]

Aside from being decently freaked out, the power doesn't seem to work. Undead have a resistance to mind affecting technique. "Sorry, but no. That would be betrayal. Why should I betray the boss to you folks?" If he had an eyebrow, it would be so raised right now.

((You were plenty clear. That's Sevet not knowing, not me.))

[Slii Arhem]

Junior eye's her skull speculatively, clearly pondering the possibility of a "head-knock" from something that thick.

"Yeh any good at ead-knockin Grotte? Yeh can call me Junior, or jes keep at 'er with tha Scarry-one if yeh wish." Doesn't matter a wit to him what she calls him, but he's actually interested in her answer. He hasn't met anyone who could give him a run for his money when it came to headbutts.

Their drinks probably arrive right about now, Junior having the money out to pay for whatever Grotte ordered, as well as his own.

[Darklord Bright]

Grotte thinks about this for a moment, and then gives herself a subtle nod.

"Alright, this one will call it Junior." she seems to decide, grabbing the mug as it is given to her, "And it will call her Grotte."

She takes a swig of whatever thick, dark black fluid happens to be swimming around in her mug at the moment, not seeming to notice just how awful it is and looks. Presumably she ordered it on purpose.

"I's good at knocking. Few skull-thicks in Hubonk could knock better than Grotte."

[Slii Arhem]

That gets a vicious smile out of Junior, and he fishes around in his satchel to pull out a few more coins, slipping them on to the table.

"Tell ya what Grotte, if yeh can best me in ead-knockin, ah'll buy yer drinks fer tha night. If yeh can't, ya have ta do tha same fer me. Sound fair nough to yah?" A little friendly competition is what we need in here! Most of the things Junior has met with his head have been soft, worthless targets.

Like brick walls.

Grotte looks like she could prove a challenge though. And really, besides a heavy concusion and a lighter wallet, what does he have to lose?

[Darklord Bright]

A challenge! A head-knocking callenge! As a blarg, Grotte has no choice but to accept, her pride is at stake! It's better to be knocked out and lose than to go home a coward who didn't knock at all.

Back at Hubonk, all disputes were solved with knocking. The best knockers always got the best things, so you had to get better at knocking to beat them, and if you couldn't do that you beat the next guy down. But that wasn't all.

"Grotte tells Junior that this one's home-clan has rule. Rule says worst-knocker has to make best-knocker happy until the next sundown. Worst-knocker can't do that, worst-knocker knocks again."

She seems very serious. It's highly unlikely she's making this up.

[Slii Arhem]

Junior considers that carefully. Those are somewhat higher stakes than he'd proposed, but he couldn't exactly back down now that he'd proposed it. Besides, a day was hardly anything in the long run, so even if he lost it wouldn't be much of a hardship.

"Aright then, loser 'as ta do what tha winner says fer a day, an try ta make em happy." Junior removes his bowler hat, intent on making this a fair competition. If he lost, and the blarg told him he failed to make her happy and had to knock again, he'd use the bowler and show her something really hard.

Junior gets off his stool, downing the rest of his drink quickly so that nothing is distracting him. He'll step back a few paces so that there's a clear line between him and the bar. He isn't sure if there's any ceremony involved, so he'll wait for Grotte to make the first move.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Outside the BDD]

The black figure does not reappear from behind the cooling unit atop the adjacent warehouse. It stays well hidden. Whatever or whoever it was has no intentions of coming back into view, so the next move is Rhyan’s.

[Inside the BDD]

Winguardia listens closely to Sevet’s words. A sparkle of respect glimmers at the corners of her eyes when the skeleton recognizes his error and takes the bold, straightforward approach instead of trying to lie his way out.

“Apprentice… interesting… he is a Celestial. But that rules out Aerfallon or any other Blade Master…” she muses quietly.

She is about to comment that Sevet will have to break the news about the kitten to Alysha, but the winged woman does not wish to disturb Mayhala’s next tactic. Instead, she waits patiently to see the results.

Pity Sevet lost track of the time. His boss arrived outside exactly at the six minute mark two posts ago. ((Sorry if I hadn’t made that clear :smallredface: ))


Aside from being decently freaked out, the power doesn't seem to work. Undead have a resistance to mind affecting technique. "Sorry, but no. That would be betrayal. Why should I betray the boss to you folks?" If he had an eyebrow, it would be so raised right now.

((You were plenty clear. That's Sevet not knowing, not me.))

Mayhala seems to be a bit put out at that. Not having met any undead before, she wasn't aware of that, and thus wasn't expecting it to not work, nor does she get why it didn't; she thinks she messed it up somehow, and, while she hides it well enough, is very unhappy about that..

Though, as, whether or not the magical effect is working, he'll hopefully be at least put off balance by the sudden change in her eyes, and their rather disconcerting appearance, she, if possible, stays in eye contact with Sevet, and while it doesn't do anything to aid the magic directly, her eyes begin to actively drain the light from the area around them, creating a small pool of utter blackness in the area directly surrounding each of them.

"It was supposed to be because of a compulsion spell... But considering that it didn't work, why are you working for him in the first place? Do you have something against Siri?"

[Darklord Bright]

Grotte hops off of her stool, leaving her own drink alone. There are more important things than drinking to do right now! Moving towards Junior, she extends her hands to his shoulders.

"Grab shoulders, then at three counts, we knock and see."

Once they're both prepared, the counting will start. At the count of three, both of them will try to lead the other into a fierce headbutt, at least by Hubonk customs. Sometimes things get a little off-script, as it were. This is acceptable of course; knocking is competitive.

And so, she counts down, pulling back her head in preparation...

[Slii Arhem]

Junior counts along with Grotte, and tries to time his knock to be as close to simultaneous with hers as possible. Junior's head hits with the force of a thrown cinder block, and is about as thick as one.

After the collision, he seems dazed, but from his obvious grin the blarg should be able to tell he's far from being out of it.

"D'yeh wanna go again lass?" His grip on her shoulders may tighten a tad in anticipation.

[Darklord Bright]

Her thick skull is more than capable of taking a headbutt or two, but Junior's got some surprising strength for someone who isn't a blarg. Still, he isn't bred for this like she is. She's certainly not un-phased, but it'll take a bit more than that to really knock her out of the competition.

Obviously, since there was no clear victor, the second round must commence!

"Junior is good, but this one is best. Grotte always best."

She plants her hands down on his shoulders again.

[The Bandicoot]

A small banjo appears in Flarg's hand and he offers it to Phitty, a mischievous grin on his face. Learn to play it well. Maybe you'll win next time. he stifles a laugh and bows slightly to the judges. If anyone so desires an encore I would be happy to oblige.

[Hattish Thing]

I challenge you. You. sing?

[Slii Arhem]

Another count of three likely happens, and another head bonking shortly afterwards. Junior is, if anything, trying to hit harder this time. His theory is that if he can get a good enough blow through, he won't have to turn this into a war of attrition, which he's almost certain he'd lose.

Of course, the massive throbbing blob of pain that is his frontal lobe after that last hit is probably making him rethink things in a bit more sensible fashion. Or at least it would, were he not burying it under a level of alcohol induced pain tolerance unheard of among normal men.

"Are'yeh gettin' tired lass, or can ya step up an face one more?" From the looks of things, one more is about all Junior has in him.

[Darklord Bright]

Grotte has to blink a few times and try and shake away a little dizziness. This guy hits pretty darn hard, and she's honestly kind of impressed. Most non-blargs who got into a knocking competition would have been down after the first round, and here he is going for a third.

She takes in a deep breath and they prepare for what might just be the deciding round! The last round! All of the headbutting had led up to this moment, right here, right now! It's almost as if the air itself around them is giving them space for one last attempt!

1... 2... 3!

And their heads come crashing together once more!

[The Bandicoot]

Flarg shakes his head at Then Don't sing much else than tavern songs. he may know how to play a dozen instruments but Flarg has never had the voice for singing. Expecially with all the cigars and rum he had consumed in life.

[Slii Arhem]

Junior's forehead splits open on collision, and his eyes go blank for a moment or two as he blacks out standing up.

Then he snaps back into conciousness, a river of blood streaming down between his eyes, pouring over the bridge of his many times broken nose and dripping steadily onto the floor.

He gives Grotte another fierce grin, opens his mouth, most likely to ask for another round, and then his eyes roll back into his head as the accumulated damage catches up with him.

He's only still standing because of the vice grip on her shoulders. If Grotte's still concious at this point, I'd say she's won.

[Darklord Bright]

Grotte lets out a short cry of "Victoryyyy...!" before collapsing forwards, causing them both to land in an unconscious heap on the floor of the tavern.

Well, that didn't really end right for either of them, and now they're making a mess on the floor of the tavern, what with the blood and the piling of bodies on the ground by the bar. Someone ought to clean that mess up.

Still, it was a good knocking. Not just anyone could manage that.

[Chaotic Bob]

Aaaand back to paying attention.

Del blinks a bit, shaking off an alcohol-induced haze that had been consuming his attention for the past...long while.
He vaguely recalls some thoughts about a beach and tequila, but beyond that, heck if he remembers.

The dragon-drow rubs his forehead a bit and looks around for Junior.
Where'd that psychotic dwarf go? Probably got into another fight or something...

Finding his drinking partner on the ground, head bleeding all over the place, with an unconcious...goblin? next to him doesn't really convince him that a fight didn't happen.
Judging by blood, Junior lost. At least he doesn't look dead.


Rubbing his forehead again, the fellow sets about to picking the two up off the floor (where they're at risk of being stepped on) and maneuvering them into chairs.
Neither are given a lot of care, either due to Del being a jerk or that alcohol-haze.
Just sort of casually placed into the chairs and leaned forward onto the table.

Although, he does hunt down some napkins for Junior to lay his head in. Probably enough to be a blanket, and with the resting pressure the forehead will suffer from gravity, maybe they'll even help sort of.

They'll get a few minutes, before he gets bored and tosses some water at their heads, from nearby glasses.

[Slii Arhem]

Junior splutters when the water hits him, bolting upright in his seat and looking around accusingly. Not that it does him any good, since the semi-dried blood has effectively glued the napkins to his forehead, blinding him for the moment and making him look ridiculous.

"Oy! Whossat!?"

[Lady Serpentine]

A small banjo appears in Flarg's hand and he offers it to Phitty, a mischievous grin on his face. Learn to play it well. Maybe you'll win next time. he stifles a laugh and bows slightly to the judges. If anyone so desires an encore I would be happy to oblige.

Lellienth grins at him.

"I wouldn't mind one, I think. Depends. For one thing, would we just be performing, or would it be a formal contest again?"

[The Bandicoot]

Flarg scratches his chin Why don't we all play a non-competitive encore together? he strums his guitar a bit and looks at Phitty Instruments and singing only please he turns back to Lel You start I'll follow.

[happyturtle]

Gideon watches, realizing finally that it was a competition, and that the talented elf had apparently lost face by coming in second. He had not heard all of the songs with his full mind, so he could not say whether the halfling was better or not. What he could see was that he was taunting him by his statement "Instruments and singing only please" - refusing to acknowledge that the elf's talent had any value at all.

He raises his voice, rusty from lack of use during his weeks as a rat. "An encore without the elf chanter's participation would not be worth the listen."

Of course, whether anyone finds it worthwhile to pay attention to a half dressed, barbarian elf is doubtful.

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/7055/tek4f1d71ce4015d2654666.png (http://tektek.org/avatar/47961977)

((And I'm away for the weekend now, so please don't initiate any interaction unless you want your character trapped in deadtime till Sunday. :smallsmile:))

[Shadowcaller]

Phity is about to reply to Michicora when the scores are shown. At first, he frowns, but by the end, he's scowling, obviously bothered, but he'd had to accept what they said. He'd object, call for a rematch and try to beat Flarg in a face-off, but he had a Rep to consider. Gritting his teeth, he turns to him. "What instrument?"

Great, what had she been pulled into now? She was completely tone deaf so she could hardly tell which one that was better then the other. But it seemed appropriate to take this elves side in this.

Michicora looks straight at Flarg, "You sounded like a dying animal to me." She says with a shrug before turning to Phity, "I know a much better teacher then that tone deaf donkey if you want to master another instrument." She glances at Flarg again, "He could only teach to attract hungry hunters."

[Zefir]

Andy stands up. It's obviouse that he won't have a small talk here unless he knows something about music. And that is something he hasn't while making his researches. He sits on another empty table just to drink and look around what other persons are around.

[UncleWolf]

Phity turns his back to Flarg, ignoring the more than heavy insults before he takes off his hat. He puts the banjo in it, revealing it to be a magic pouch, and puts it back on. "I'll learn it myself. Ready to get out of here?" He asks Michicora.

[Lady Serpentine]

Flarg scratches his chin Why don't we all play a non-competitive encore together? he strums his guitar a bit and looks at Phitty Instruments and singing only please he turns back to Lel You start I'll follow.

"Sure. Illusions alright to accompany that? And do you have any of the instruments needed to play part of this?", she asks, using an illusion to play a small bit of this song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbJ89efvKqM&feature=related), though only the music for it.

[The Bushranger]

[Outside the BDD]



The black figure does not reappear from behind the cooling unit atop the adjacent warehouse. It stays well hidden. Whatever or whoever it was has no intentions of coming back into view, so the next move is Rhyan’s.

Which means Rhyan casts a Levitate spell upon herself.
And levitates her way up to the warehouse roof!

[Darklord Bright]

[...]
They'll get a few minutes, before he gets bored and tosses some water at their heads, from nearby glasses.

The blarg blinks awake, trying to work out where exactly she's wound up. Seeing that she's still in the bar, she calms down a little... but still needs to determine how exactly she wound up in a seat.

"What's going onses? Which one is best-knocker?"

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]

She will find a boring roof, with large tan-painted steel housings for climate control units at intervals along its length. By the rusted look of them, and the peeling paint that was visible on the walls when she was at street level, this place has not been used in a while.

If she continues toward the unit that the winged figure ducked behind….. she will find a winged figure bent down near an access panel on one of the units. He has it propped open and is looking inside.

[Inside the BDD]

“My friend asks an interesting question.” She points out to Sevet. By ‘my friend’ she clearly means Mayhala. “Additionally, I can give you several reasons to betray your boss, one of which I think you’ll actually consider. You said you could accept a better offer. I may be prepared to give you one.”

[Chaotic Bob]

Junior splutters when the water hits him, bolting upright in his seat and looking around accusingly. Not that it does him any good, since the semi-dried blood has effectively glued the napkins to his forehead, blinding him for the moment and making him look ridiculous.

"Oy! Whossat!?"

Oh good, they're both awake.
Although one of them cleverly looks like an idiot, but hey, these things happen with drunken head-bashing contests.

Del doesn't really look amused, plopping his arm onto the table and resting his cheek in his hand.
"Do I want to know what you two were doing?"

[Slii Arhem]

Junior delicately peels the napkin stack off his forehead, glowering at Del all the while and daring him to laugh.

"If yeh must know, me'n tha lass was havin' an ead-knockin' competition. Ah'm not altogether sure who won it, if'n we both passed out." Well, it certainly seems like they both passed out. Junior can't remember anything past the second knock, but if Grotte is here and likewise covered in water then that's what he assume happened.

[OrchestraHc]

"Gasp!" Sevet says, and yes he does actually says the word gasp, "Mind control? Naughty, naughty." He wags his finger at Mayhala. As her eyes appear to eat the light around them, the screech of his chair backing up can be heard as he distances himself, but he doesn't seem to acknowledge that. "Assuming she's Siri, no I don't have anything against her. I'm working for him because, well, he asked me to work for him. I sorta need a boss, if that makes sense."

"I'm listening," is all he really has to say to Winguardia. His voice sounds genuinely interested, though

[Hattish Thing]

Thenadier leaves.

[KerfuffleMach2]

Alysha tilts her head a little. Why do you need a boss?

Oh, hey...she's paying attention. Good for her!

[Darklord Bright]

"This one thinks it mustwas a good knocking, Grotte can't remember it." the blarg girl says, still reeling a bit as she wipes the water off of her face.

"But it doesn't know what two same-knockers do, and too dizzy to go again."

[Chaotic Bob]

Del fails to laugh.
Must be the faintly sour mood his head is leaving him in.

Though he does quirk an eyebrow.
"What possessed you to have a headbutting competition?"

[Slii Arhem]

"We were deciden who would pay fer the drinks tonight, very important y'unnerstand?" Well, that and the small matter of being their servant for a day, but the drinks were more important.

Junior turns to Grotte, equally unsure of how to proceed.

"Howabout we jes drink then? Mebbe some other time we can have another go, an see who's head's thicker then?"

[Lady Serpentine]

[Outside the BDD]

She will find a boring roof, with large tan-painted steel housings for climate control units at intervals along its length. By the rusted look of them, and the peeling paint that was visible on the walls when she was at street level, this place has not been used in a while.

If she continues toward the unit that the winged figure ducked behind….. she will find a winged figure bent down near an access panel on one of the units. He has it propped open and is looking inside.



“My friend asks an interesting question.” She points out to Sevet. By ‘my friend’ she clearly means Mayhala. “Additionally, I can give you several reasons to betray your boss, one of which I think you’ll actually consider. You said you could accept a better offer. I may be prepared to give you one.”


"Gasp!" Sevet says, and yes he does actually says the word gasp, "Mind control? Naughty, naughty." He wags his finger at Mayhala. As her eyes appear to eat the light around them, the screech of his chair backing up can be heard as he distances himself, but he doesn't seem to acknowledge that. "Assuming she's Siri, no I don't have anything against her. I'm working for him because, well, he asked me to work for him. I sorta [I]need a boss, if that makes sense."

"I'm listening," is all he really has to say to Winguardia. His voice sounds genuinely interested, though


Alysha tilts her head a little. Why do you need a boss?

Oh, hey...she's paying attention. Good for her!

Mayhala smiles, looking mildly amused at Sevet's reaction, and a bit pleased with herself. After all, she must be doing something right if she's freaking out the talking skeleton.

"Not mind control, exactly... If you want, I can tell you the details sometime," she says, settling back in her chair, and waiting for Winguardia to proceed with whatever she's proposing to the undead.

[Shadowcaller]

Michicora will give Andy a small nod before turning her attention to Phity.


Phity turns his back to Flarg, ignoring the more than heavy insults before he takes off his hat. He puts the banjo in it, revealing it to be a magic pouch, and puts it back on. "I'll learn it myself. Ready to get out of here?" He asks Michicora.

"I thought you never ask." She states before turning her back on the competition as well to leave the tavern with Phity.

[The Bandicoot]

Flarg's response to the elf is for his guitar to change into a violin and bow appears in his other hand. He tests it out a bit, breaking through some of the cobwebs in his head and then he starts the song. It seems that he has picked up how to play quite a few instruments well in his extensive travels.

[LadyOfWar]

"I think you'll find my offer appealing for four reasons." She leans her elbows on the table and gestures slightly with her hands as she speaks to him.

"First, you can keep the kitten and as many more as you'd like to collect. I would never force you to give your pet away to further my own ends.

Second, there will be a small sum of cash in it for you. Not enough to get rich on, but enough to keep yourself in matchbooks... or even larger burning things if you wish.

Third, you might gain a friend, if not much of a boss.

Fourth, and most importantly, unlike your current boss, I would NOT use you to help me dismember someone and leave them to slowly die just so I could collect a bounty on their wings." Pity he doesn't have a face. She'd be able to tell a lot about this fellow if she could read his non-verbal response to that. "I'm guessing your current boss didn't mention that was part of your current job description, did he?"

[The Bushranger]

[Outside the BDD]


She will find a boring roof, with large tan-painted steel housings for climate control units at intervals along its length. By the rusted look of them, and the peeling paint that was visible on the walls when she was at street level, this place has not been used in a while.

If she continues toward the unit that the winged figure ducked behind….. she will find a winged figure bent down near an access panel on one of the units. He has it propped open and is looking inside.

Rhyan does indeed find him...and attempts to cast a Hold Person spell upon him
before he notices her presence sneaking up behind the winged figure!

[OrchestraHc]

Alysha tilts her head a little. Why do you need a boss?

Oh, hey...she's paying attention. Good for her!

"I just sorta... do. Like, I can't function if I'm not working for someone." He doesn't really understand it, but his mind was literally created by his first master to be subservient, though not necessarily loyal.

"Not a bad offer," he says to Wingaurdia. "And no, he didn't mention that little caveat, but hey, I've worked for people who've wanted to take over the world. It isn't surprising that I've been picked up by someone who does something nasty. How gruesome that sounds is a bit new though..." There's just a bit of weariness, almost annoyance, in his voice. Seems he's tired of working for the bad guy, but he's given up trying to fight it. "He did mention you were a criminal, though. I thought he was some sort of detective. I suppose the question 'do you deserve it' would come next, but like I said, I've probably worked for worse." He pulls the out match from his socket. "If a warm place to stay is in that offer somewhere," which is the only real want or need besides a boss, "just tell me what you want to be called."

[LadyOfWar]

[Just outside the BDD]

For anyone capable of seeing magic the spell will roll over the figure like a wave, and shed off of his wings like water off of a well-oiled duck. It seems to interact with his person, but only slightly. It slows him down as he stands up and turns to face her.

To a normal person his face is still completely hidden by the darkness under his hood. To a half-drow, his features should just be visible.

His eyes are strangely dark, like Winguardia's, and his cheekbones stand out above his sunken, bearded cheeks.

He says nothing. Instead he stares at her, letting his silence draw out until the moment becomes palpably awkward.

[Inside the BDD]

((An edit with a response to Sevet is coming. Just give me a moment, please. :smallsmile:))

((Here's the edit:))

“I’m sure I could pay enough for you to rent a little apartment. Would that be warm enough?” she asks the skeleton.

“And I wouldn’t be able to tell you which crime he thinks I committed unless you tell me who he is.” She informs Sevet.

[The Bushranger]

[Just outside the BDD]

"You know, the timing of your arrival and your sneaky actions outside the building here could be considered to be quite suspicious, were one of a suspicious mind," the half-drowess necromancer says, frowning at the man.

[OrchestraHc]

Sevet actually has to think on that for a second. Not living in his master's fortress, secret lab, castle, or studio apartment? "That'd... That'd be new to me, but I guess I can give it a shot," he says awkwardly. "Objectively your offer isn't a serious deal better than his. But I'm betting, and I mean really betting, on you folks as the good guys here. For once in my life I'd really like to be on the good side." His voice is sincere, and he really hopes he's not making a mistake. "I accept. I'm all yours now. So does Reclaimer mean anything at all to you?"

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]

"Then one ought to be less suspicious." he replies. His voice is deep for a man with such a small frame.

"It is more questionable to sneak up on someone and cast magic at them. It is criminal in some countries." His tone carries a hint of threat.


[Inside the BDD]

“First off, you’re not ‘all mine.’ I don’t own you. That would be horrible. Call me Siri, and I need to know your name.”

Then he adds his last sentence. “Reclaimer”… her eyes seethe. “Yes. It means everything.” She forces herself to look less angry. “You were dealing with the Council’s current Reclaimer of Wings. He … or she, though I know of no females… is in essence a bounty hunter in the Council’s employ. In his eyes I am a criminal. The crime I am charged with is treason. There is only one trouble with that. To commit treason one must betray their government. I never swore fealty to the Council and thus never betrayed them.”

She half closes her eyes, as if trying to remember something.

“Tell me, does he have dusty-black wings, stands about a foot taller than me, wears black leather gloves, hair cut and attitude like he thinks he’s exceptionally handsome?” she basically just described the man tracking her.

[The Bushranger]

[Outside the BDD]

"Then perhaps it's a good thing that we aren't in those countries?" Rhyan asks rhetorically. "However, I do admit I might have had better options to use. However, your...familiar stature to somebody I know, caused me to decide to err on the side of caution.

Extreme caution."

[OrchestraHc]

"Sorry, minion vernacular. My name is Sevet." he starts. "I don't know about thinking he's handsome, but that's about right. It's probably been over six minutes so he's probably waiting outside the bar to ambush you. He doesn't seem to want your other friends involved, he also thinks they're human." best to get the awkward info out of the way before it becomes a hindrance.

[KerfuffleMach2]

Alysha giggles a little. I think he's gonna be in for a surprise, then. I think I'm the most human of us...maybe...not entirely sure, actually. Huh.

Anyways, I'm actually a vampire. See? She grins and points to her fangs.

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]

"You met another Celestial? Please, do tell me where. I should like to meet one of my own race here. We are not common." He steps closer, allows his hood to slip back just far enough that oblique rays of light make his expression visible, and he smiles. It would be a charming smile in an excessively self-confident way, if it were not for his long, sharp fangs.

[Inside the BDD]

"Your boss is named Brian. I know him better than I'd like, but there are very few Aerials in my world, and we live a few thousand years, so it's inevitable." Odd, before this she was using the term 'Celestials'... "I think you'll soon find, by comparison you're now working for the 'good guys'." She smiles. She seems relieved, and her posture is becoming more relaxed.

"Well, Sevet, now that you're not trying to kill me, it is a pleasure to meet you." She offers the skeleton her hand to shake.

"We should try to make sure he continues to think you're human." She tells Alysha, "Harming a human would cost him his title and involving a human in Celestial affairs would be beneath him, so he won't openly attack until I'm alone."

[KerfuffleMach2]

Alysha looks a little sheepish.

Um...okay...I guess...I'd really rather avoid a fight, though...if we can.

[LadyOfWar]

"My thoughts exactly, Alysha." Winguardia replies. "I do not want to fight him, I'm hoping we can convince him to give up and go back home. Step one: keep him from attacking the instant I walk out that door. Having people around me that he doesn't want to involve in this will accomplish that nicely."

[Hattish Thing]

Marciano (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12572008&postcount=653) and Grantaire (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12598156&postcount=656) enter. The thieves have blood splattered on them. Evidently not theirs. They're covered in sewer water. Marciano is positively beaming. His greed temporarily sated. Oy, Grantaire! W' go' two 'undred gold from tha' drow bard. He won' be able to play 'is lute again! Bwahahaah! Yup! I coul' see why! Awfully 'ard to play with only one 'and!!! Shoul' I 'ave grabbed th' 'and? Nah....We go' enough profit. Plus! We go' thi' rose.....why is it glowing an' what does it do.....'Ow th' 'ell shoul' I know?! They chatter and laugh greedily. They sit at a table. The pair of crooks look very happy.

[happyturtle]

The smell of the new arrivals is enough to make Gideon very quickly leave the Den. :smallyuk:

[Hattish Thing]

Why did ya' let th' girl go?! We coul' 'ave 'eld 'er ransom! Bad enough she killed Gavroche! 'E was a fine thief.She turned into a wolfy! Whot was I t' do?! Huh?! Ya' coul' 'ave 'elped me kill 'er! Corpses are worth a lot...If ya' find th' right buyer. No' too 'ard fo' me t' find mind you. I know plenty 'o' necropeople. Freaks they is. Yes, sir.Ok,OK! Sheesh. Well we need t' find someone 'oo can identify th' glowey rose thingy....Jus' find a wizard! Damn. Tha' drow blood got all over me 'at..... Its just a hat. Silence! Me 'at 'as sentimental value m'fren'. Alrigh' sorry bossman. Marciano yells out, Oy! Any 'o' ya' otha' people know or are wizards?! ANYONE!? With this gold I'll be able to buy an 'ouse! Ain't it a laugh? Ain't it a treat? Hob-nobbin' here! Among the elite? Gold at me feet! Enemies in the dust! And here I'm breaking bread! With the upper crust! Beggar at the feast! Master of the dance! Life is easy pickings! If you grab your chance. Everywhere you go. Law-abiding folk, doing what is decent! But they're mostly broke! But we're the ones who take it, we're the ones who make it in the end! Watch the buggers dance! Watch 'em till they drop Keep your wits about you! And you stand on top! Masters of the land. Always get our share! Clear away the blood and gore, and we're still there! We know where the wind is blowing, money is the stuff we smell! And when we're rich as Croesus! Gods! Won't we see you all in hell! Watch 'em run amuck, Catch 'em as they fall, Never know your luck! When there's a free for all, Here a little `dip'There a little `touch'! Most of them are goners! So they won't miss much!

Bwahahhahhah!

[Darklord Bright]

"We were deciden who would pay fer the drinks tonight, very important y'unnerstand?" Well, that and the small matter of being their servant for a day, but the drinks were more important.

Junior turns to Grotte, equally unsure of how to proceed.

"Howabout we jes drink then? Mebbe some other time we can have another go, an see who's head's thicker then?"

Grotte shakes her head, holding it slightly to try and prevent the light amount of shell-throbbing.

"Grotte need rest." she says, standing with a stumble, "This one will go sleep-bye, but it might come back to see Junior whenever head stop thump-pounding."

She'll start to make her exit if he doesn't stop her.

[Hattish Thing]

The pair of thieves chatter loudly.

[The Bushranger]

[Outside the BDD]


"You met another Celestial? Please, do tell me where. I should like to meet one of my own race here. We are not common." He steps closer, allows his hood to slip back just far enough that oblique rays of light make his expression visible, and he smiles. It would be a charming smile in an excessively self-confident way, if it were not for his long, sharp fangs.
"Ah, but, you see, there is a small problem with that. I get the impression she'd rather not meet any others of her race."
Rhyan arches an eyebrow.
(As her player hopes that isn't all wrong. :smalltongue:)

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]

"Interesting." he replies, rubbing his chin with one glove-clad hand. He steps back from her and turns slightly to the side. The motion is innocuous enough, though it is designed to give him a clear view of the door out of the BDD.

((She definitely doesn't want to meet this member of her race at the moment.))

[The Bushranger]

[Outside the BDD]

Intriguingly, the air seems to distort slightly, preventing a clear view into the windows, possibly.
"Interesting is one term, perhaps. However I could think of a few others."

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]

He squints a little, but is otherwise unperturbed by the distortion in the air. He goes back to letting the silence speak for him, waiting to see what she will say and do next.

[The Bushranger]

[Outside the BDD]

Rhyan crosses her arms.
And waits.

And waits.




...she likes the quiet.

She'll be quite happy to stand here until the cows come home and/or her apparent opponent breaks the silence first. :smalltongue:

[OrchestraHc]

"My thoughts exactly, Alysha." Winguardia replies. "I do not want to fight him, I'm hoping we can convince him to give up and go back home. Step one: keep him from attacking the instant I walk out that door. Having people around me that he doesn't want to involve in this will accomplish that nicely."

"Siri?" Sevet pipes in. "Sorry to question the new boss off the bat, but is there a stage in the plan where I reveal, let's not sugarcoat it, that I betrayed him. Because, unlike you, I actually am being treasonous here." If this guy is after Winguardia for treason, Sevet might be screwed.

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]

"I have business to attend to now." He finally breaks the silence. He makes a motion with his hand as if showing her the door.

[Inside the BDD]

"In all honesty, Sevet, I haven't gotten to that part of the plan yet. I do not want him to hurt you. What were your orders, exactly? If I know, it will help." Winguardia says to him.

[KerfuffleMach2]

Alysha looks thoughtful for a moment.

You know...I could cast a reflect spell...when we leave...in case he tries something long range...maybe...

[OrchestraHc]

"Make sure you don't leave for six minutes. Technically, the inquiry was playing into his hands." Sevet says. "Mission accomplished there, I think. After that, if you leave he said not to bother following you."

[The Bushranger]

[Outside the BDD]

"With whom?"
Rhyan doesn't budge...but she does narrow her eyes.
"If it concerns my friends, it concerns me."

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]

He looks her up and down disdainfully and replies, "I doubt real estate development of this building involves your friends."

[Inside the BDD]

"That would be lovely, Alysha. The honor of Celestial society dictates that he must fight me hand to hand, but Brian never was much for honor when money was concerned."

She thinks about what Sevet said.

"It has been six minutes at least. Hmm... if he sees you leaving with me he'll know you betrayed him... If you stay put for a bit, he would have no way of knowing. The question then becomes what you will say when you meet up with him next or if you can avoid him completely from then on." She pauses.

"The second question is whether you'd like to play a double-agent or not. I leave that entirely up to you."

((See you all tomorrow))

[The Bushranger]

[Outside the BDD]

"Then be my guest."
Rhyan looks him over again, huffs softly, then turns to Levitate back down to the Den.

[The Bandicoot]

Cragg shakes the deadtime off and attempts to sneak up behind Marciano and his friend. If he succeeds in that feat he'll lightly knock their heads together. Well, lightly for him anyway, most likely hard for them. yehr louhdness ohfends me. Shoosh.

[Hattish Thing]

They're good thieves. They hear him before he knocks their heads. Wha' th' 'ell d' ya' want?!

[The Bandicoot]

Cragg points to them and then holds his finger to his lips. If they make any threatening remarks or gestures his shotgun will be drawn and aimed at their scrawny little heads. He has dealt with annoyances before and he can do so again.

[Hattish Thing]

Um....may I ask what tha' means?! Better no' be an insult. Who're you? Grantaire, don't be stupid! Its obviously a gang symbol. Who d' ya' work for?

[The Bandicoot]

Cragg facepalms and starts to walk away. Obviously he thinks they're too stupid to actually warrant threatening them any further. If he isn't stopped he'll walk across The Den and sit down at an empty table, taking a swig from his bottle.

[LadyOfWar]

[Outside the BDD]

The winged man simply watches her go.

When she is down on the ground he goes back to feigning interest in the upkeep of the building's climate control... though he always stands so that he is facing the exit of the BDD.

[Hattish Thing]

Cragg facepalms and starts to walk away. Obviously he thinks they're too stupid to actually warrant threatening them any further. If he isn't stopped he'll walk across The Den and sit down at an empty table, taking a swig from his bottle.

OY! Do you know 'oo 'e is? Grantaire. I can talk too. Yeah! See! He can talk too!
....Grantaire?
Whatcha need me bossmanliness?
Fo' ya' t' shu' up.
.....oh....sorry......Ill be quiet...Oy! Do you kno' who he is?!No' whisperin'! Silen'! Ya' know wha' nevermind....Like I said, d'ya know 'oo I am?I thought I asked tha'...... Marciano ignores Grantaire and begins boasting. I'm the Master of the house, keeper of the zoo. Ready to relieve 'em of a coppa' or two! Watering the wine, making up the weight! Pickin' up their knick-knacks when they can't see straight! Everybody loves a halfling! Everybody's bosom friend
I do whatever pleases! Gods! Won't I bleed 'em in the end!
Grantaire pops in halfway.Master of the house, quick to! catch yer eye, Never wants a passerby to pass him by Servant to the poor, butler to the great! Comforter, philosopher, and lifelong mate! Everybody's boon companion! Gives 'em everything he's got

They laugh and jeer noisily.

[OrchestraHc]

[Outside the BDD]

He looks her up and down disdainfully and replies, "I doubt real estate development of this building involves your friends."

[Inside the BDD]

"That would be lovely, Alysha. The honor of Celestial society dictates that he must fight me hand to hand, but Brian never was much for honor when money was concerned."

She thinks about what Sevet said.

"It has been six minutes at least. Hmm... if he sees you leaving with me he'll know you betrayed him... If you stay put for a bit, he would have no way of knowing. The question then becomes what you will say when you meet up with him next or if you can avoid him completely from then on." She pauses.

"The second question is whether you'd like to play a double-agent or not. I leave that entirely up to you."

((See you all tomorrow))

"I can, but if you can talk him down, I may not need to. If you do fight, I suppose I'm safe one way or another, though." It's a musing that might have been better kept to himself but he's being oddly honest with his new boss. "Do you really think you can talk him off your back?"

[Lady Serpentine]

OY! Do you know 'oo 'e is? Grantaire. I can talk too. Yeah! See! He can talk too!
....Grantaire?
Whatcha need me bossmanliness?
Fo' ya' t' shu' up.
.....oh....sorry......Ill be quiet...Oy! Do you kno' who he is?!No' whisperin'! Silen'! Ya' know wha' nevermind....Like I said, d'ya know 'oo I am?I thought I asked tha'...... Marciano ignores Grantaire and begins boasting. I'm the Master of the house, keeper of the zoo. Ready to relieve 'em of a coppa' or two! Watering the wine, making up the weight! Pickin' up their knick-knacks when they can't see straight! Everybody loves a halfling! Everybody's bosom friend
I do whatever pleases! Gods! Won't I bleed 'em in the end!
Grantaire pops in halfway.Master of the house, quick to! catch yer eye, Never wants a passerby to pass him by Servant to the poor, butler to the great! Comforter, philosopher, and lifelong mate! Everybody's boon companion! Gives 'em everything he's got

They laugh and jeer noisily.

They may, rather suddenly, end up with a solid mass of shadows filling their mouths. You see, Mayhala is trying to think. And they, so far as I can tell, are being rather loud, which interrupts her concentration.

Whether or not they do, though, unless they have some way to prevent her from teleporting, they'll have a tall female human, with shoulder-length black hair, who's normally rather pretty - but, unless they don't mind that her eyes, including the whites. appear to be infinite voids, like miniature night skies with no stars, and are absorbing any light that falls near them, creating a small, perfectly circular, area of complete darkness around themselves, isn't at the moment - appear in front of them, trying to make eye contact.

If she does manage to look in their eyes, unless they have some way to resist mental effects, they should feel intense fear, and that doing anything against her is completely futile.

"Now I know who you are, though I had no wish to - do you know who I am?"

Her voice is cold and cruel, though, if they're able to appreciate it, also rather nice otherwise.

[Hattish Thing]

Grantaire is absolutely terrified. Marciano has Elkandars ring. He can't be mentally affected. Grantaire whines annoyingly, Scary lady? Please don't eat me brains. I ratha' like 'em. As well as me eyes. they're nice too. don't eat me.....pwetty please?

Marciano glares right at the woman.
Grantaire, zip yer lip.

Oy, lady. Can't ge' me. I'ves bots me some magical ring whatchamacallit. Wha' th' 'ell d'ya wan'? I was enjoying a rather nice profit from an interesting target. I came 'ere for wine, women, and a chance t' leave me wife fer a while an' enjoy a nice day 'o' celebration. I woul' appreciate it iff'n ya woul' leave me alone. Don't particularly care about ye' name. His cockney accent makes him hard to understand.

[Lady Serpentine]

She smiles at Grantaire.

"Oh, don't worry, I don't eat brains, or eyes. That's Ariella," she says, before turning to Marciano, though she keeps her eyes firmly locked on Grantaire's. Sadly, the rather disturbing speech she'd normally make is put off, at least, though for how long isn't certain, by the fact that she's only known the language they're speaking for half-an-hour, or, at most, a full hour, and thus his accent makes him almost completely unintelligible to her. "Now... What, exactly, did you just say? I know the language, I think, but... Your accent is thicker than that of a fisherman from Lake Evendim, if similar."

[Hattish Thing]

Marciano replies, T' sum i' up. I sai' leave Im here to rest. Not fight. I already had me fun fer th' day wit' combat.

[LadyOfWar]

"I can, but if you can talk him down, I may not need to. If you do fight, I suppose I'm safe one way or another, though." It's a musing that might have been better kept to himself but he's being oddly honest with his new boss. "Do you really think you can talk him off your back?"

She laughingly replies, "Thanks for your honesty, Sevet." to his bit about being safe either way.

Then she becomes a bit more serious, "You might note I said, 'convince him to leave,' but... um..." she glances around the room a little, "I didn't say that would involve talking." she has a little grin to follow this up. The look is a mix of sheepish nerves, sly cunning, and excitement.

Then, for Alysha's sake, she adds, "It hopefully won't involve fighting either. That would end badly."

She looks like she is thinking...

[The Bandicoot]

Cragg does his usual escape bit of turning a key in air and walking through a door that appears where the key was turned. This time however the door stays open, showing a dim wooded area.


((Anyone is welcome to walk through the door.I'll be making a post in Outside for whats through the door))

[Chaotic Bob]

Well, Del certainly isn't go to stop Grotte from leaving.
Not sure he likes her, what with leaving Junior bleeding all over the place, but it seems to have been a mutually consented activity, so not his place.

Weirdos.

He shakes his head and scratches a bit of something off his shoulder plate.
"I've spent too much time in here. I can feel the air's alcohol seeping into my skin."

[OrchestraHc]

She laughingly replies, "Thanks for your honesty, Sevet." to his bit about being safe either way.

Then she becomes a bit more serious, "You might note I said, 'convince him to leave,' but... um..." she glances around the room a little, "I didn't say that would involve talking." she has a little grin to follow this up. The look is a mix of sheepish nerves, sly cunning, and excitement.

Then, for Alysha's sake, she adds, "It hopefully won't involve fighting either. That would end badly."

She looks like she is thinking...

Intriguing. "So... Posturing? Humiliation? Wishes and clapping?" Sevet's curiosity is piqued. He does so love clever plans.

[LadyOfWar]

And Winguardia is very much hoping to come up with a clever plan here.

She looks over at Mayhala, hoping the shadow-user will come back quickly. The odd woman has already proven herself to have an excellent tactical mind and Wing would like to hear her ideas.

"His motivations are money and prestige. Bringing my wings back to the Council will earn him both. If we counter those two motives, he will simply give up the chase." Pity is, money and prestige are rather strong motives.

"Humiliation would work on him... he is VERY proud and if he thinks staying here will only humiliate him further while heading back home would leave that humiliation behind him, well, he would leave. Only trouble is... that can backfire. He might decide on revenge...."

"Hmmm...."

"Feel free to kick around ideas here if you have any."

[Lady Serpentine]

Marciano replies, T' sum i' up. I sai' leave Im here to rest. Not fight. I already had me fun fer th' day wit' combat.

Mayhala nods, her rather nasty smile widening.

"Good. Then asking you to be quieter about your resting won't cause a fight. Right?"

[Hattish Thing]

I was hardly being loud lass! Back where I'm from tha' was just a whisper! BWAHAHAHA!! GRANTAIRE UP!

Grantaire has ducked under the table. He won't move. Marciano kicks him hard. Grantaire whines. owwww....

[The Bushranger]

Rhyan, meanwhile, finally makes it back inside the Den, and heads to rejoin her companions at their table.

[Lady Serpentine]

I was hardly being loud lass! Back where I'm from tha' was just a whisper! BWAHAHAHA!! GRANTAIRE UP!

Grantaire has ducked under the table. He won't move. Marciano kicks him hard. Grantaire whines. owwww....

Her smile vanishes.

"I see. Well, unfortunately, you're not where you're from. So please be quieter, or I'll see if you're as loud when all of the bones in your body shatter. I suspect you will be, or louder, but not for very long at all."

As she says this, the shadows around them should suddenly form a small dome over the three, blocking them from being seen or heard by anyone else in the Den.

[LadyOfWar]

Rhyan will find Winguardia and Sevet at the same table she left them at. Alysha is still cuddling the kitten ((last that her player saw)).

When Wing sees Rhyan coming she promptly holds out a napkin.

"Breath through this."

She then holds out a second one.

"And blow your nose on this."

[Hattish Thing]

Her smile vanishes.

"I see. Well, unfortunately, you're not where you're from. So please be quieter, or I'll see if you're as loud when all of the bones in your body shatter. I suspect you will be, or louder, but not for very long at all."

As she says this, the shadows around them should suddenly form a small dome over the three, blocking them from being seen or heard by anyone else in the Den.

Oy, lass. This ain't no fun no more. We came 'ere to enjoy th' tavern. Not t' be attacked by some witch as you are. G'way.

Grantaire starts screaming very loud, DOM"T EAT ME BRAINS!!!!!!!!

[Lady Serpentine]

Oy, lass. This ain't no fun no more. We came 'ere to enjoy th' tavern. Not t' be attacked by some witch as you are. G'way.

Grantaire starts screaming very loud, DOM"T EAT ME BRAINS!!!!!!!!

Grantaire may find his mouth is very suddenly filled with a solid mass of shadows, which should prevent him from screaming, speaking, or doing much else that requires a mouth.


"I will go away as soon as you have agreed to be more quiet. I won't be distracted, and you won't draw my obviously unwanted attention. A fair deal, yes?"

[The Bushranger]

"Thank you," Rhyan says, already snuffling a bit, but accepting the napkins. "And there is...somebody outside who bears a striking resemblence to you, you might want to know," she tells Winguardia.

[Hattish Thing]

Grantaire may find his mouth is very suddenly filled with a solid mass of shadows, which should prevent him from screaming, speaking, or doing much else that requires a mouth.


"I will go away as soon as you have agreed to be more quiet. I won't be distracted, and you won't draw my obviously unwanted attention. A fair deal, yes?"

Whatever woman. G'way. By the way. I must thank ye fo' th' silencing 'o' me fren'.

Grantaire makes a :smallyuk: face.

[LadyOfWar]

"Thank you," Rhyan says, already snuffling a bit, but accepting the napkins. "And there is...somebody outside who bears a striking resemblence to you, you might want to know," she tells Winguardia.

"So Brian has arrived then. Oh, Rhyan, you should meet Sevet." she holds out her hand to indicate the skeleton. "He has decided to work for me and has confirmed what you've just described: Brian, also known as Reclaimer, is here to cut off my wings and bring them back to my world to collect the bounty on them. We are now working on ways to convince Brian that is a very bad idea."

Clearly she has been dealing with this problem in her life for some time. She wouldn't be this casual about it if this experience were new.

[The Bushranger]

Rhyan merely nods to Sevet before looking back to Winguardia.
"He seems somewhat resistant to magic. However I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve that might possibly assist in that endeavour."

(However, I now have to head off for a bit.)

[Lady Serpentine]

Whatever woman. G'way. By the way. I must thank ye fo' th' silencing 'o' me fren'.

Grantaire makes a :smallyuk: face.

She laughs, much more pleasantly than she's done before in their hearing.

"You're welcome. I can leave the shadows in his mouth, if you want."

[Hattish Thing]

Nah, 'E's occasionally entertaining. Ya' know?

[Lady Serpentine]

"Fair enough," she says with a nod, teleporting back to her place at the table with Siri, Ryhan, Alysha, and Sevet, allowing the dome, and the shadows in Grantaire's mouth, to vanish as she does.

Now that she's broken eye contact with Grantaire, the effects should fade in anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.

[Hattish Thing]

Marciano attempts to follow the woman. Oy. Can I talk to ye fer a minute?

Grantaire's teeth chatter as he follows Marciano.

[LadyOfWar]

"All Celestials and Aerials are resistant to magic. Our wings shed its effects like water. Resistant, however, does not mean completely immune...."

Mayhala comes back over.

"Oh! Mayhala, excellent, you're just in time to discuss sneaky, nasty and otherwise nefarious ways to get rid of Brian the menace. Please, do sit down and voice any ideas you come up with."

She motions to the bench beside her.

[OrchestraHc]

"Bribery? Fake wings? Ooh! We let him cut off your wings and magic you up some new ones! No that's stupid..." Sevet is quick witted but he needs something to work with.

[Lady Serpentine]

Marciano attempts to follow the woman. Oy. Can I talk to ye fer a minute?

Grantaire's teeth chatter as he follows Marciano.

Following may be hard. She simply stepped into a shadow, in the opposite direction she was teleporting, and vanished.

However, if they're determined to find her despite that, it can be done.


"All Celestials and Aerials are resistant to magic. Our wings shed its effects like water. Resistant, however, does not mean completely immune...."

Mayhala comes back over.

"Oh! Mayhala, excellent, you're just in time to discuss sneaky, nasty and otherwise nefarious ways to get rid of Brian the menace. Please, do sit down and voice any ideas you come up with."

She motions to the bench beside her.

Mayhala smiles a bit, retaking her seat, and thinking the problem over.

"You said you're both resistant to magic? Hm... Does that include solid objects created through magical means? For example," she asks, forming a black rose with a grey stem and thorns from the shadows under the table, "if I were to hand this to you, would it dissolve into its original form? Also, his motivations, if I recall correctly are prestige and money - which is stronger? Is there any way to make him lose so much face in taking your wings that the money alone wouldn't be a powerful enough motivator to do so? You said something about a set of rules he's supposed to follow in doing so, but that you thought he probably wouldn't; can you tell us more about them? Maybe if we could prove he was breaking them, we could blackmail him into backing off."

[Hattish Thing]

Marciano is determined to find her. It is rather important to him. Does he find her table?

[VampireRot]

"Greetings fellow bipedals!"

Look who it is, cheerfully skipping into this tavern of ill repute. It's Devi! The young lady is wearing her usual tank top, shorts, sandals, and sunglasses, as well as her golden magi-tech bracelets with their buttons and lights. She seems to be carrying a small metal box.

The Magtern waves cheerfully at the hive of scum and villainy and puts her box down on a table, before sitting down across from it. She pushes the container away from her a bit and in plain view of everyone else. On top of it is a big red button, gleaming and shining enticingly. Written on all of the sides in large capital letters is "DO NOT PUSH THIS BUTTON". Devi settles down in her chair, smiles happily, and waits.

[Lady Serpentine]

Marciano is determined to find her. It is rather important to him. Does he find her table?

*shrugs*

He can. Up to you.

[Hattish Thing]

He can sniff out people with his large red nose and walks to her. He strides confidently showing no fear of any kind. He hums a bouncy flamboyant tune. His one grimy glove makes a conductor of an orchestra's motion. He sways his head and continues walking to her table.Is anyone else at her table?

[KerfuffleMach2]

Alysha does indeed have the kitten. Because it is cute and fluffy.

She cringes a little at the mention of cutting off wings. Definitely something she didn't want to think about.

We could try to scare him off. You know, tell him you have powerful friends and stuff. Maybe he'd be too scared to try it.

[The Bushranger]

"All Celestials and Aerials are resistant to magic. Our wings shed its effects like water. Resistant, however, does not mean completely immune...."

Mayhala comes back over.

"Oh! Mayhala, excellent, you're just in time to discuss sneaky, nasty and otherwise nefarious ways to get rid of Brian the menace. Please, do sit down and voice any ideas you come up with."

She motions to the bench beside her.


"Bribery? Fake wings? Ooh! We let him cut off your wings and magic you up some new ones! No that's stupid..." Sevet is quick witted but he needs something to work with.


Following may be hard. She simply stepped into a shadow, in the opposite direction she was teleporting, and vanished.

However, if they're determined to find her despite that, it can be done.



Mayhala smiles a bit, retaking her seat, and thinking the problem over.

"You said you're both resistant to magic? Hm... Does that include solid objects created through magical means? For example," she asks, forming a black rose with a grey stem and thorns from the shadows under the table, "if I were to hand this to you, would it dissolve into its original form? Also, his motivations, if I recall correctly are prestige and money - which is stronger? Is there any way to make him lose so much face in taking your wings that the money alone wouldn't be a powerful enough motivator to do so? You said something about a set of rules he's supposed to follow in doing so, but that you thought he probably wouldn't; can you tell us more about them? Maybe if we could prove he was breaking them, we could blackmail him into backing off."

"Also..." Rhyan asks, somewhat hesitantly, "The...vampiric parts of you. I'm somewhat reluctant to ask this, and you can feel free not to answer if you wish, but how susceptible are they to necromantic control?"

[LadyOfWar]

Wings fights back the urge to laugh at Sevet. "Of those three, bribery would work. If I were a mortal, I would fake my death, as you suggested with the fake wings, but he wouldn't buy it."

She holds out her hand to take the rose. Show beats tell any day. The rose remains perfectly intact in her hand. "In all honesty, if you made ropes out of this, you could tie one of us up. You see, the magic is acting on the shadows, making them solid. We then interact with the solid shadows. If you tried to use the magic on us however, it would roll off. This is because we are creatures of the first creation and the magic of your world is incompatible with the nature of the first making of our world." She stares at the rose, twirling it in her fingers as she speaks. Then she breaks out of her reverie and says...

"On to more practical things."

"Alysha, that would work if we could prove to him that I had friends powerful enough to stop him. You know what, you all deserve some extra information here. I'll outline this for you, but it is still a long story, so hold on for a ride."

((Spoilered for length))



"There are two forms of my species, Aerials and Celestials. Brian and I are both Aerials. This means we are despised by Celestials and treated as third-class citizens in Celestial society. For this reason I refuse to live within or by the rules of that society. For the same reason Brian took the post of 'Reclaimer of Wings' because it was the only post they would give him. His goal is to prove that he is worthy of a place in Celestial society. Barring that, he wishes to become rich.

Bringing in my wings would bring him closer to both of those goals.”

She sighs.

“I am wanted for treason in connection with a military operation that went wrong. It was a terrible disaster. One day I will face Retribution for that, but not on the Council’s time or terms.”

“Anyhow, back to Brian and Celestial society. Breaking any of the rules or traditions of Celestial society would loose Brian his place forever.

1. If he harms a human then he will face Retribution.
2. If he kills a human he will be hunted by the new Reclaimer of Wings.
3. If he takes human blood he will be banned from Celestial society.
4. If he involves humans in our dealings, he will be looked down on.
5. He must defeat me in fair combat. This rules out sneak-attacks and ranged weapons. Failure to fight fair will taint his victory.
6. Hiring Sevet would be frowned upon, so he clearly believes that what he does here will not be reported back to the Council. If he thought they would learn of his actions, he would not have hired you, Sevet.

Now, for our species’ eccentricities… Aside from the magic resistance, we live for thousands of years, the only way to kill us is to sever our wings off cleanly, we try to avoid sunlight but we can tolerate it for a time, we need large amounts of meat to sate our hunger in the absence of blood, we are resistant to fire, if harmed grievously enough we will regenerate in the way of phoenixes.

As for necromancy, I do not know. It has never been tried on our species before."



"He has been following me for years. I have avoided him simply by staying on the move.”

She sighs and looks at those around her.

“I am starting to find friends here. I do not want to run again.”

[The Bushranger]

Rhyan listens intently, frowning as she digests the information given...and reaches out to take the winged woman's hand, if she can.
"I promise that I will do my best to ensure that you never have to run again," the half-drowess says. "How far does the definition of 'human' go? I am half-human; would harming me cause him to, well, fall?"

[Lady Serpentine]

Mayhala, for the moment, hasn't even noticed Marciano, as she's focusing rather intently on ways to deal with Brian.

"Is killing him an option? I've come up with some... Interesting... Applications of my magic, one of which is a blade that also functions like a garrote. If I could get one of those around his wings and constrict it... Are your shadows also resistant to magic, or just your bodies?"

At Ryhan's question, she nods, looking as though she's rather wondering that herself.

"That's a good question... How about me? My physical form is completely human, but I have a spirit bound to my soul, and we've been altering each other for a very long time, until we finally ended up as one entity; me.

[Hattish Thing]

Oy! 'Ello! Is me! Rememba'? Marciano the assassin waves spasmodically.

[OrchestraHc]

"So my cut 'em off idea was stupid. Good to know. Blackmail might work if we had anyway to report him, but we know he's at least a little concerned, not wanting to get your human(oid) friends involved. Maybe you could convince him to say screw it and just live happily ever after in Nexus? He wouldn't be a third class citizen here. Maybe my fake wings idea again? Only working with him to trick the council guys."

He's just throwing ideas against the wall to see what sticks.

[LadyOfWar]

Rhyan listens intently, frowning as she digests the information given...and reaches out to take the winged woman's hand, if she can.
"I promise that I will do my best to ensure that you never have to run again," the half-drowess says. "How far does the definition of 'human' go? I am half-human; would harming me cause him to, well, fall?"


Mayhala, for the moment, hasn't even noticed Marciano, as she's focusing rather intently on ways to deal with Brian.

"Is killing him an option? I've come up with some... Interesting... Applications of my magic, one of which is a blade that also functions like a garrote. If I could get one of those around his wings and constrict it... Are your shadows also resistant to magic, or just your bodies?"

At Ryhan's question, she nods, looking as though she's rather wondering that herself.

"That's a good question... How about me? My physical form is completely human, but I have a spirit bound to my soul, and we've been altering each other for a very long time, until we finally ended up as one entity; me.


"So my cut 'em off idea was stupid. Good to know. Blackmail might work if we had anyway to report him, but we know he's at least a little concerned, not wanting to get your human(oid) friends involved. Maybe you could convince him to say screw it and just live happily ever after in Nexus? He wouldn't be a third class citizen here. Maybe my fake wings idea again? Only working with him to trick the council guys."

He's just throwing ideas against the wall to see what sticks.

Winguardia smiles at Rhyan as the other woman takes her hand. “Thank you.” She replies to the kind gesture.

“In answer to your questions, Rhyan and Mayhala, as long as neither of you is undead nor a magically created being, you would fit the Council’s definition. Undead are still viewed as the enemies of all life in my world because of the plague that ended the First Creation. So, Sevet and Alysha and even I do not particularly fall under the Council’s protection.

As Sevet points out, reporting any hostile actions he takes will be the problem. It is not impossible. It would merely take a human messenger willing to carry proof back to the council.

The ideal situation would be to convince him to live happily ever after here in the Nexus. There are many things that would entice him toward that option. He would be free of the Council’s oppression, he would have the opportunity to gain respect and wealth, he would not have to face me in combat, he may even be able to find friends. Our kind have difficulty making friends because we know that all other species in our world live very short lifespans compared to ours. Finally, it would be several centuries before the Council would start looking for him, and by then the trail will have gone cold. He can disappear here without a trace. Disappearing here is certainly my plan.” It looks like one of Sevet's ideas was made of super-glue.

She conspicuously does not touch the topic of killing Brian. She’ll have to be pressed to address that

[agate86]

Suddenly, a man with short hair and a brown suit comes in, while touching both the door hinges with a white cloth. He is what you see, one of the most cleanest adventurer you have seen. He then goes to the bar, and asks, "I would like the finest water you have. Make it quick, but not to quick, and clean the glass before you do it."

[KerfuffleMach2]

Alysha's face falls a little at the revelation that Winguardia's rulers count her as an enemy.

I mean, it's not her fault she's like this. And she does what she can to avoid hurting people.

Do you think...do you think he has some darkness? In his heart? Her grip on her Keyblade tightens a little.

[Hattish Thing]

Suddenly, a man with short hair and a brown suit comes in, while touching both the door hinges with a white cloth. He is what you see, one of the most cleanest adventurer you have seen. He then goes to the bar, and asks, "I would like the finest water you have. Make it quick, but not to quick, and clean the glass before you do it."

Grantaire walks over curiously. The gnomes clothes are covered in dirt. OY! What are ya'? The gnome pokes the clean man.

Marciano awaits the womans reply to his call.

[agate86]

The man jumps back at your attempt to touch him,Ahhhh! Don't touch me!! Whens the last time you took a shower? You have no right to live! Clean yourself, for Gods sake!! He hands you a cloth quickly.

[agate86]

:smallfrown:

[Hattish Thing]

The man jumps back at your attempt to touch him,Ahhhh! Don't touch me!! Whens the last time you took a shower? You have no right to live! Clean yourself, for Gods sake!! He hands you a cloth quickly.

Grantaire stares at the odd man. Actually, I took one meself las' month...I think...Why? Grantaire takes the cloth, blows his nose in it, and hands it back to the man. Thanks.

[agate86]

The man pushes back the cloth and says,"Uh, no thanks. Keep it, please." He gets out another cloth and wipes his hands shortly after.

[Hattish Thing]

Grantaire begins to sneeze. He let's out a huge sneeze. Right on the man. :smalltongue: