Adventuring 101: Part 1 - Around The World In...We'll Decide Later.

[Flame_Excess]

Where are we going? I want to know.

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>>Foward.

Suggestion: I'd enjoy it if you would use Karin to describe the place along our walk to the restaurant and of the restaurant itself.

[Meek]

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Karin wouldn't make sense, she's not the Narrator, though she will narrate in certain parts, but only because it is planned to be illogical there. It is not planned to be illogical here though. Imagine the narrator as a smarmy British git with a goatee and a Macbook Air who thinks he's better than you, and it'll be far more fun anyway.

You climb down Karin's cottage steps and see a Gnome burst into flames, and this tells you that morning is in full swing in Yawnsburg, which is not saying much. People seem to be out and about today, as opposed to yesterday, where they seemed to be in, along some antonym for about not yet crafted by the linguists in the Algebrica Academy.

Excited murmurs occur just outside your ears, but you catch snippets, such as "fire in the sky", "flying objects", "aberrations" and one person talking about non-euclidean geometry. Like geometry is anything to be afraid of.

"Oh my, a lot of excitement today." Karin says, but she does not stop to ask anybody, speeding you along to breakfast. "They probably wouldn't want to tell me anyway, they likely suspect I had something to do with it."

You take a dirt patch between small hills and green patches of grass and trees, winding your way around town to the appropriately themed Sicily Store, where the clone seems to be back to her gloomy self after her small moment of happiness the day before. She turns around, and props up a little scroll on the side of her stand, in view of the customers.

"I know what you're here for," The clone gloomily says, "We'll get the full Restaurant some time within the next few months, but in the meantime, since Crafting magic items takes so damned long–"

"Oh my, what's the base price of a Sicily Restaurant addition?"

"A lot. I can conjure up a table for you somewhere around here, in the meantime."

"That'd be splendid."

"5 gold from everyone." Sicily says, stretching out her hand. She balks at Karin's incredulous expression. "This isn't an inn, we don't serve copper piece food here." The clone retorts.

[Flame_Excess]

If you don't have enough gold, it's not my problem. I don't lend money.

Fhil foolishly grabs his purse and takes the five pieces out of it with contentment and hands it about shoulder height toward the Sicily woman, waiting for her to come closer to him and to pick up the gold in his hand.

[MorkaisChosen]

MLE smiles.

"Technically I don't need to eat. Very good economically, that. Enjoy your meal..."

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Interesting how the Americans imagine a British narrator, while us Brits tend to think of the ridiculous over-the-top American narrators from movie trailers...

[Helepolis]

Panitari simply digs a ration out of her pack, and starts munching on that. "I don't even have 5 gold to my name...'

[Meek]

Sicily stares at Fhil. Wordlessly and without movement, she appears to cast a spell, because a glowing white hand the size of her head suddenly takes the money from Fhil's hands.

"Oh, don't worry you two, I can pay for you if you can't."

Karin takes out fifteen gold, and asks Richard whether or not he can pay.

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The reason I imagine a brit is due to this being a written narrative sparsely inspired by Douglas Adams. Though I suppose you could also imagine narration by Kurt Vonnegut if you wanted an american counterpart.

[MorkaisChosen]

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Douglas Adams? Well, that's different.

Enter Stephen Fry!

Actually, thanks very much. Stephen Fry is perfect for that narration, it really gets the idea across...

[Lepre_Khan]

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Actually, I'd been imagining Stephen Fry. Good call, Master Chosen!

"Don't worry, I can pay." Richard digs out five gold from his pack and walks over to the Sicily Clone. Remembering what he'd learned from Bryant Duorn, the poet hands over the money with a smile, "Good morning to you, miss. That necklace looks marvelous on you."

[Helepolis]

Panitari makes a small bow "Thank you very much, Miss Karin"

[Meek]

Sicily ***** a small grin at Richard.

"Alright, that's a table for five."

She claps her hands, and a darkwood table appears two squares away from the group with enough room and chairs for everyone. "Just think hard on what food you want, sit down, and enjoy." Sicily says. She then ducks into the stand, tinkering with something or other perhaps. Karin floats over to where her chair is, pushes it out of the way, and a big plate of scrambled dire duck eggs (rather brown and toasted-looking), dire sausage (rather brown, spiky and toasted-looking), feral salad (hopping around angrily on the plate) and superior orange juice (gimmick name, absolutely no difference) appears in front of her.

"Nifty!" She says.

[Helepolis]

Panitari sits down, and fried eggs, toast, and hash browns appear. "So much better then rations. So much."

She goes to it with a will.

[Meek]

"So, I thought we could use this time for you guys to get to know each other, and for me to get to know you. You probably already know me." Karin says, giggling lightly. She uses her fork to cut a dire sausage, which wriggles even as she chews.

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Free talking time!

[Flame_Excess]

Fhil stands in amazement for a moment, looking at Bryant's present to the Sicily clone. He looks to be daydreaming, although he is clearly equally attentive to everything going around him. As a matter of fact, he comes sitting last in a perfect and exact timing after the previous one who sits at the table.
Without any further interaction, he enters in the matter he and Richard talked earlier:
The door. It's because of the door that I couldn't leave and go back in the woods.

Fhil moves to another subject, with another person.
Karin, I might know you, it doesn't tell me what has put you in such a miserable condition. I want to know. I would also like to know why you paid for people you have just met...they're pityful, that must be the answer.

Fhil vaguely looks concentrated and suddenly drifts back to the same subject:
...but first, I would like to know why I am here...surrounded by a bunch of sissies.

He stands up moving his chair with strenght and then he freezes.

...actually why leave when I can benefit of...
A bowl of soup appears in front of Fhil.
...this? I will do that only afterwards.
He sits back down on his chair.

[Helepolis]

Panitari just shakes her head at Fhils outburst. 'Well, I know you of you quite well, Miss Karin. I have no idea who the rest of you guys are, but apparently Fhil is a complete moron...and it seems Rich is some kind of poet, or something. My name is Panitari, a psion...kalashtar, if any of you have ever heard of that race before. I do mercenary sort of work, mostly. The general stuff...low level monster infestations and escort missions, as a rule."

She continues eating

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I wanted to call Richard by the pet form of that name, but apparently it's censored. So Rich it is

[Flame_Excess]

Indifferent, he lets Panitari's insult slip without reacting.
It is not Fhil, it is Fhil. You did not pronounce my name properly. You obviously don't speak elven commonly.
Fhil grabs his bowl with two hands and hides his face behind it, swallowing its content.

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Without knowing you were a psion, I was doing my post exclusively writing my actions, and not my thoughts. Now knowing that, it would add some interest to write about it since you can read minds. Would you like it if I did so?

[MorkaisChosen]

MLE

MLE lets a glob of eldritch fire play around his fingers before allowing it to dissipate. "As Ms Karin already knws, I am a freelance mechanic and Warlock. I don't have all that much experience with adventuring, although I have put down the occasional Dire DIY Mistake. I would like to get a little more experience, though- as a mechanic, I really don't get very much chance to throw blasts of eldritch energy at people."

"I've heard it's good fun."

[Helepolis]

Panitari shrugs at Fhil "I couldn't care less."

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I can't just like, read minds at will, Flame, any more then a wizard can. I don't in fact have any such powers. So, don't worry about it

She turns to MLE "Well, I can't speak for Eldritch Energy, but it does get quite amusing when you start blasting away..."

[Lepre_Khan]

Richard is quite content to let the others talk. He's busy chowing down on a thin, watery gruel. Just like mothers. Still, he figures he should add something to the conversation and, frankly, MLE's last comment was slightly disturbing, "At people? Sure, blasting monsters can be a hoot--I'm a sorceror, Ms. Panitari, as well as a poet--but blasting people? That seems a little, you know, evil. Aren't we supposed to protect people from monsters? Slay dragons, rescue maidens, whoop liches--that sort of thing seems far more appropriate for an adventuring party. In Tennant's Idle Whim's of the Emperor he describes the purpose of adventurer's through the words of Emperor Andrew the Bear. One of the key points is that adventurers do good in thought as well as deed, if we start to think less of NPC's we're just as bad as villains--simply smarter since we can steal from them as well as earn their good will."

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Heleio--If you want to use it, spell it 'Dic' or 'Dik' if you want. Even 'Dich' may work.

[MorkaisChosen]

When I say people, I tend to mean it slightly more generally. You know, an evil insane necromancer-lord of Death still thinks- as far as I know- so "people" probably applies. I'd only do so when it's appropriate- I'm not a villain..."

[Lepre_Khan]

"I suppose that's one way of looking at things, but it seems rather limited to me. Someone is person merely because they're sentient? Look at orc's, they're sentient. Not especially bright, perhaps, but sentient. However, they are--on average--undeniably monsters and not people. So I'd say that personhood is granted more for morality than intelligence."

Getting into the debate, Richard forgets about the gruel and carries on. His voice raises slightly as he gestures furiously with a pencil he drew from his pocket. "Now, I really don't mean to be implying that you're a villain--though the deal with a devil would seem a little questionable if I were less enlightened--I was just remarking that it's precisely this line of thinking that leads to villainous behavior. In Tennant, Ser Gwylanith falls from his knighthood precisely because he begins to look down on NPC's and slay them for not treating him properly. He thinks that he deserves bigger rewards and that sort of thing, he makes the mistake that the only people that matter are powerful people. Might makes right, that sort of thing. Obviously you weren't there yet, but it's a small step from 'intelligence makes one a person' to 'if they aren't a PC, they exist purely for my pleasure and I can treat all others as utterly insignificant.' Fascinating, isn't it?"

[Meek]

"My, my, you're all so very interesting." Karin says. She's either thoroughly stupefied by your debate or not even listening. She answers Fhil's question, "My injuries are due to a fall from my cottage and down the mountain side. My floor was being eaten by chimera woodchipper ants. It's been since fixed. The reason I hired you is because the usual group of adventurers I hired went off on their own and tried to kill a Tarrasque, but died in an...unpleasant way. But do not worry! Our expedition will have nothing to do with Tarrasques! I already wrote a book on it. I died five times! It might have set me back 50,000 gold on Resurrections, but it was worth it. The people deserve to know! Plus the royalties and sales recouped my investment almost ten times."

[Flame_Excess]

Fhil lowers his bowl, now half full.

If you have to write a book, what did you write so far? I've noticed you took some notes earlier.

[Meek]

"Well, every book needs a prologue! So I'm taking notes about you for the prologue of our story." Karin says.

[Helepolis]

Panitari laughs "I can only imagine what it must say..." She then pushes her plate away, and pushes her chair back, putting her feet on the table. "Well, that was good...what now?"

[Flame_Excess]

Our story...what do you mean by our story? I am not staying, I told you.
He gulps down the rest of his soup.
...what would be the purpose of staying with a group of clumsy adventurers, really?
To these words, Fhil stands up, serene.
Farewell.

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Don't worry OoC. There is something that will catch Fhil's interest. Trust me.

[Helepolis]

Panitari shrugs "Good bye, then...don't let the door hit you on the way out"

[Meek]

"Hmm...well, bye Fhil." Karin says. She turns to Panitari quite suddenly after. "So, why are you so small and adorable?" She takes out her pen and notebook again, and has her eyes on Panitari like a hawk.

[MorkaisChosen]

MLE sits back, trying not to draw too much attention from the poet- and secretly quite glad of Karin's interruption...

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That's an IC thing- OOC, I love what you're doing. Just wanted to make sure you realise I'm not annoyed with you the player, Lepre_Khan.

[Helepolis]

Panitari is startled by the sudden attention "Uhhh...I'm not sure. I've been this way for years...I just never got really big."

[Lepre_Khan]

"If only more women were blessed with such fortune, the world would be a far fairer--and thus better--place. If you don't mind me asking, could it be some side effect of psionics? I've always felt that muscles seem to squeeze out brains. So, we can have men built like statues--with all the conversational capability's of a statue. See, there's only so much space in the human body and when too much of it is taken up by muscle, there isn't much room for brains and intelligence. As a psion, I assume you need a fairly advanced and large brain, so this could lead to your smaller size."