[Nexus] Trog's Tavern CCXLIII

[Beans]

((Dunno if that's directed to me, but if so, thank you!))

The half-orc turns to face the snow-haired woman, giving her a quick once-over. "Yes, I believe so. You wrote about it, I believe. Or someone..." He shakes his head, figuring that he's going on too much about such a trivial piece of information. He removes his gray, woolen glove - revealing a hairy hand. He offers it to shake. "I'm Abraxes Foxwood, professional soldier. And you are Nycca, then?"

She nods.
That's me!
I can tell we'll be glad to have your muscle backing us up.
The small woman smiles up at him.

[Falgorn]

Foxwood grins, showing his pointed teeth. "Well, so long as the loot is there, and we only do combat with the impure, you shall have my muscle." Only now does he notice the deepgnome sitting there. "I assume this one will be joining us?"

[Dark Elf Bard]

The gnome snorts.

"This one" has a name, y'know!

[Falgorn]

Abraxes growls, glaring at the gnome, before regaining his composure. "Yes, of course, it was...rude of me not to acknowledge you properly."

[Beans]

Nycca eyes the two, sipping her drink and hoping she doesn't have to break up a fight.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Abraxes growls, glaring at the gnome, before regaining his composure. "Yes, of course, it was...rude of me not to acknowledge you properly."

Oh look, the ogre-child acknowledges his brutishness.

The little gnome stares right into the orc's eyes angrily.

[Beans]

That's more than enough.
Nycca frowns at the gnome. Escalating the situation is totally needless.

[Dark Elf Bard]

The gnome swivels and gives her a stony stare, but keeps quiet.

[Falgorn]

The half-orc grinds his teeth, but he does his best to stay composed. "I could end you with little more than -" he stops himself, exhaling deeply. "I apologize, ma'am, that was most unbecoming of me." With that, he takes a seat. "So, have any others expressed interest in our journey?"

[Beans]

Nycca swallows, sipping her drink and praying these two don't do something insane.
Not yet, but there's one other person I know is coming---a mage, friend of mine---once they finish up some work.

[Dark Elf Bard]

The half-orc grinds his teeth, but he does his best to stay composed. "I could end you with little more than -" he stops himself, exhaling deeply. "I apologize, ma'am, that was most unbecoming of me." With that, he takes a seat. "So, have any others expressed interest in our journey?"

Little more than a few hundred dragons and a honey-roasted ham. The svirfneblin mutters under his breath.

The little gnome sighs heavily and goes to get an espresso. He returns whilst sipping. The thief seems much more relaxed with the coffee in his hand. The cup is about twice as large as him!

[OrchestraHc]

A young blond man dressed in a blue jumpsuit with yellow-trimmed collar and zipper walks into the den of insanity known as Trog's. Apparently there's a beach party of some sort happening. He gives it a passing glance, but otherwise ignores it. He's here for a reason after all.

Looking around Justin eventually spots the bat winged girl and strides over. "You're the one who put up the sign on the wall right? The treasure and monster adventure?" He adjusts the duffle bag around his shoulder.

[Falgorn]

Abraxes taps his fingers on the table, noticeably bored. "Well, it seems your mage friend has not yet arrived. In the meantime, tell me about yourself. Your wings, for example - how does one get those?" He shows genuine curiosity in his eyes; this is obviously a bit more than meaningless small talk to him.

[Beans]

Nycca nods, smiling.
Yep! And I guess you're interested, then?
She brushes some of her pale hair from in front of her dark glasses, shifting her bat wings a little.

She turns to Abraxus.
Oh, these are natural. Born with 'em---I'm a Molossa, which is also why my eyes are good in the dark and not so good in normal light, thus the shades.

[Dark Elf Bard]

The gnome speaks!

Molassa? What's that? We've never heard of one.

[OrchestraHc]

"Very. I haven't done anything like that in a while and I'm afraid I might get rusty." he says, taking a seat at the table. "What exactly are we in for, specifically?"

[Mina Kobold]

"Swell, are you looking for adventurers? You still accepting more 'nolas?"

a voice speaks from above Nycca's table, seemingly originating from a seemingly ordinary humanoid, even within the lower range of normal human height, sitting on a ceiling beam. Most notably about the humanoid's appearance is a pair of old flight goggles, very red hair, a tie-dyed shirt competing with a coat-of-Many-Colours for most vibrant and colourful article of dress in the room and a cheerful grin on a friendly face. That, and the insectoid wings with a green sheen that nicely compliments the Pixie's solid green eyes, all quite ordinary traits.

"If so, Lewis Wyllt O' the Earth-with-the-Veil at your hire!"

The Pixie presents itself, somersaulting off the wooden beam and floating eagerly down to the nearest free chair. Grinning all the while and leaving a short-lived trail of shimmering air behind.

__________________________________________________ _____

The hero nods when he's asked the question. "I'm Louis when I'm not in the suit, though." He pulls out the shard of the vase to show Meli. "I handled the Genie. He says he owes me one, and maybe you too. It was sort of vague. 'When you're in trouble the past will come to help' or something like that. He is sorry though."

Meli ponders the Genie's cryptic message for a short spell, seemingly not sure what it means. Smiling with a hint of an apology, the chimeric Elf writes in response.

"It could help a lot, though I am not sure with what. But I am very glad that it ended well."

After patiently waiting for Louis to read the message, Meli follows it up with a question further down the page. Pausing briefly to ponder the wording.

"Why do you have another name without the suit? I do not think I know of anything like that."

Meli seems unsure about the question, but too curious not to ask. The ragged cloak reveals little about the tan mismatch of creatures' own world's fashion, but it seems it might lack spandex-clad superheroes.

[Dark Elf Bard]

The gnome looks up and coughs.

Finally, another feywild face.

[Beans]

The gnome speaks!
Molassa? What's that? We've never heard of one.

Molossa are sort of like harpies, but batlike instead of birdlike---skilled in navigating in darkness, good hearing, wings, hanging upside down, et cetera. There's not a lot of us that mix with other people, so I wouldn't expect people to have heard of us.

"Very. I haven't done anything like that in a while and I'm afraid I might get rusty." he says, taking a seat at the table. "What exactly are we in for, specifically?"

Well, the place is mostly an old lumber-processing facility; my intel says the buildings are still in pretty good condition, some even claim the water pipes work. But there's been reports of magical tainting there, so we might see some weird stuff... also harpies.
She grimaces, but shrugs. So probably nothing huge, but we won't be strolling in and out in fifteen minutes.

"Swell, are you looking for adventurers? You still accepting more 'nolas?"

a voice speaks from above Nycca's table, seemingly originating from a seemingly ordinary humanoid, even within the lower range of normal human height, sitting on a ceiling beam. Most notably about the humanoid's appearance is a pair of old flight goggles, very red hair, a tie-dyed shirt competing with a coat-of-Many-Colours for most vibrant and colourful article of dress in the room and a cheerful grin on a friendly face. That, and the insectoid wings with a green sheen that nicely compliments the Pixie's solid green eyes, all quite ordinary traits.

"If so, Lewis Wyllt O' the Earth-with-the-Veil at your hire!"

The Pixie presents itself, somersaulting off the wooden beam and floating eagerly down to the nearest free chair. Grinning all the while and leaving a short-lived trail of shimmering air behind.

Oh, hey, cool! Sure, we've got room for you.
The bat-winged girl smiles at the pixie-dude.

[Slii Arhem]

An Unusual Beach

The Cadillac goes where it pleases! And today, it pleases it to go up the cliff.

Without the catapult.

By driving straight up the blasted thing vertically on two wheels.

Somehow, it wouldn't surprise me if that Caddy was sentient, and the Rhymelord was just along for the ride.

[OrchestraHc]

Young Star thinks of how to phrase it. "I rescue people and stop them from hurting others. People who hurt others don't like it when you stop them. Remember how angry the Genie got? Sort of like that. In order to protect myself from being attacked in everyday life or my family and friends getting hurt, I wear a mask and suit and use a different name. Understand?"

Over at the adventure table, Justin seems decently intrigued. "What's a harpy? And what exactly is the pay off?"

[Beans]

Harpies are humanoid, but with feathered wings and eagle talons for hands and feet. Many of them are pretty nasty-tempered and territorial, so we'll probably have to deal with 'em.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Adventure! Table

The young gnome snorts.
Yeah, yeah, bird-women. When are we going? Or is there an interview to do?

[Beans]

Nycca's mouth twitches a little.
Besides my friend, I still think it'd be smart to have another person at least.

[Dark Elf Bard]

Well if she's supposed to be here... Where's she now?

The gnome sips his coffee and twitches several times.

[Falgorn]

"Well, welcome, friends. If we are planning on simply strolling in and combating these creatures, we should probably think of our strengths and weaknesses, yes?
Or are these things that we will fight pitifully weak?" Foxwood asks, trying to get a greater understanding of what they're doing. "And, Nycca, why are you invested in this mountain?"

[Dark Elf Bard]

Well, I'm guessing that you, the gnome points at the half-orc, cast spells.

[Beans]

Thunderhead Mountain has a high concentration of loot.
Weapons, shiny things, even magical components.

And our opposition will be enough to make it a challenge, but hopefully not too bad.

[OrchestraHc]

"I guess that's enough info for now," Justin says. "So we're waiting for your friend and one other? I guess that can work."

[Dark Elf Bard]

The gnome sips his coffee.

So what do you do, jumpsuit?