Trog's Tavern CCLII

[Celticbear]

The bug-man puts a thumbs up, walks out, and seems to be gone for the time being.

[Slii Arhem]

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Cursed Table

"Yeah! Do you think I'd believe two losers like you could create life? Don't fool yourself dumb-dumb's!" Libra exclaims. "So go head, come up with your best suggestions. I won't remove the curse if they're real people though, keep that in mind!"

Steve says "Fine, if this is the only way, then may The Benevolent One forgive me." He ponders for a while, and then says "Make them chaotic and evil." Maybe if they were evil, it wouldn't be as bad. Besides, if they act up, Steve can go after them.

"Let's see... Make them bald, have a perfect build, and being liked by everyone despite being evil. Also, give this person an extremely high ego and make the person rich if possible. I assume that would be fun to curse."

Cursed Table

"All very doable, but seems a bit cliche, don't you think? I almost feel like I'd be infringing on someone's copyright. Not that the higher powers ever cared about such things before. Besides, you're both describing the same person now, unless you want two copies of one entity. Clones, as it were."

[8BitNinja]

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Cursed Table

"All very doable, but seems a bit cliche, don't you think? I almost feel like I'd be infringing on someone's copyright. Not that the higher powers ever cared about such things before. Besides, you're both describing the same person now, unless you want two copies of one entity. Clones, as it were."

Steve says "Would clones work for you?"

[Zefir]

Well, sitting at a table and drinking lemonade is Jack, she's a girl. Though it's also hard to tell; she's young, possibly twenty, probably younger, with short black hair and a skinny, androgynous frame and large grey eyes. She's wearing a red chequered shirt, a pair of denim jeans and black steel-toed boots. Sat on the floor next to her, her leg through the strap to deter thieves, is a brown leather with a stylised crow embossed onto the flap.

The man can't really notice Ein in that case. He sure got some feature of his reptile bloodline, but not enougth to detect supernatural hiding half demons in a dark corner. Maybe if she would sit somewhere in the center in the light he might notice the heat from her body.

And three at one? He's not that self confident right now. And one of them is to hot for him. Thought he did throw a look at them. Winter clothes inside?

He grabs his drink, takes a sip and steps over to Jack.
"Hey there." he starts. "I'm a bit curiouse about the crow on your leather. Is it something like a school sign?"

[Ashen Lilies]

[Downstairs]

Fayyaad's eyes sparkle with interest. Well, he was interested before. But now he's interested in an additional thing.

"Really, now? That would be quite useful to me. I did purchase a tuxedo recently, which is currently in my quarters. Seems like we can help each other, with fashion and practicality. And who knows what else."

"We've already started adventuring together," says Cassandra. The intensity of her own gaze, which seems to have been hovering somewhere in the vicinity between 'smokey' and 'smoldering', doesn't seem to be at any risk of abating.

[Celticbear]

The strange bug man walks back in, now only slightly covered in bugs rather than swarming with them. He walks up to the bar, and says:

That was an experience. Think I'll take a Black Shadow.

[Morty]

"We've already started adventuring together," says Cassandra. The intensity of her own gaze, which seems to have been hovering somewhere in the vicinity between 'smokey' and 'smoldering', doesn't seem to be at any risk of abating.

"Indeed we have. Which turned out to be a fruitful partnership," Fayyaad says. "We can go discuss further partnerships in a more private setting, if you'd like."

[Ashen Lilies]

"An interesting proposal. I accept."
Cassandra smiles.
"Did you have a setting in mind?"

[Morty]

Fayyaad stirs the wine in his glass, considering it.

"You did say it's a long walk to your tower. So for now, my room here in Trog's will have to do."

He gets up and offers Cassandra his hand.

[Ashen Lilies]

"Should we arrange for another bottle of wine to be sent up?"

Regardless of whether they do or not, Cassandra allows herself to be led to Fayyaad's room, bringing his clothes along as well.

[Earl of Purple]

"Not a school symbol, no. I'm too old for school, anyway. It's more of a... Tribal one, I guess you could say. A running theme for everyone in my hometown, and one that's just as true for me as the others who haven't left." Jack smiles at the reptilian man, eyes flicking up and down his frame, before settling on his face. How about you, any interesting symbols used in your hometown, or are you an Inside resident, or an immigrant for whom Nexus is all new and strange?" Her voice is slightly more feminine than her body, but still very androgynous. She's one of those people you see on the street, and can't tell their gender at a first glance.

[Recaiden]

The strange bug man walks back in, now only slightly covered in bugs rather than swarming with them. He walks up to the bar, and says:

That was an experience. Think I'll take a Black Shadow.

Opaque, oily-looking liquors follow each other into the glass and are minutely stirred.
"You're looking better real quickly."
The bartender comments, passing the drink over.

[Celticbear]

The man takes the drink, and smiles: Hm? Oh, I'm a fast healer.

At the word fast, a beetle crawls across the man's left eye. He didn't blink.

Name's... Joe Bob. I'm a demon. Haven't cracked the perfect human form yet, perhaps you could give me a few pointers?

[Morty]

"Should we arrange for another bottle of wine to be sent up?"

Regardless of whether they do or not, Cassandra allows herself to be led to Fayyaad's room, bringing his clothes along as well.

"An excellent idea."

Fayyaad leads Cassandra up to his room, which is fairly simple, but clearly lived in. Fayyaad keeps it pretty tidy, and there's a surprisingly luxurious carpet on the floor. Cassandra may be able to notice that it's magical. He takes off his vest, unbuttons his shirt a little and sits down on the bed.

"How is it? Do you see anything you like?" he asks, the double entendre clear as day.

[Recaiden]

The bartender laughs, a scoffing sound. "Perfect human form? You're looking at it."
Ludicrous false-narcissism; while the bartender does have a truly fabulous hairstyle, she's merely a normal person, whereas around here you can't swing a catgirl without hitting some supernaturally perfect Adonis.
"Seriously though. First, lose the bugs. Second, humans react when things touch their eyes. Staying so still, you look like a mannequin." Or a corpse.

[Celticbear]

Joe (if that is his real name) lets lose a smile that seems a bit too wide.

I never could get reactions just right. As for the bugs, I need a bit more experience under my belt before I can hide those. This whole mortal worlds thing is a tad bit new to me, relatively speaking. It's like I'm an elf wizard who just mastered cantrips and yet is well over a century old, except times about two thousand if you know what I mean.

Joe seems to try and keep the bugs down a bit, but they're still there. All of a sudden Joe's hair seems to get an electric shock, and buzzes up in an afro. The demon then makes an effort to push it down a little, obviously irritated.

Stupid hair! Why did I have to be the physical manifestation of Swarms and Storms. Other than having my business card say that I'm a "Swarm-Storm Demon", this gig has no perks. Except for being incorporeal. And immune to electricity. Okay, a few combat perks, but I can't have a conversation with a human looking like this.

[Recaiden]

"I don't think I do. Isn't it that they have other things to do, and are a bit perfectionist, rather than that they're slow?"
The bartender shakes her head.
"Why do you want to pass for human, exactly?"

[Celticbear]

Joe Bob looks the bartender strait in the face, and says: Why, to allure and consume children of course.

Joe then waits a few seconds before laughing, and saying: No, I'm just kidding. People usually trust a semi human looking individual than say a floating Cumulonimbus cloud surrounded by a swarms of every bug ever imaginable when it comes to talking business. Unless I grossly misjudged this species.

[Recaiden]

The bartender rarely laughs. This is not one of those occasions.

"I suspect that, much like that possible elven wizard, you have grossly misjudged this species." May not know exactly how to explain why, but that Joe has is pretty clear.

[Celticbear]

Joe sniffs through his left nostril and says a monosyllabic eh out before saying: So what do you think I should do?

[Green Elf]

[Cursed Table]

The ranger speaks up immediately after Steve. "They don't have to be the same. He just wants the person to be evil too. They could be completely different, although clones would be funny."

[Shadowcaller]

[Cursed Table]

Libra cackles so hysterically she throws her head backwards.
Then she turns to look at Steve and Luvon with a smile.

"No."

She slaps her hands together. "In fact, your suggestions are so terri-bad, I'm gonna tell you a little secret. See, I actually put a lot of thought into Steve's curse." She claims as she suddenly flops down into a chair which immediately starts floating off with her in it. She is hoovering a few feet above the ground as she points a finger at the paladin. "First, I considered all sort of nasty thingies, but then I realized that the best curse for him was no curse at all!" She declares with her arms spread wide, grinning widely at them. "All I did was switch the color palette of his powers!" Well, a bit more than that...

"Or is that colour? Eh, whatever." She waves her hand dismissively. "My point is that Steve is already evil, or at least neutral, and is just using his cover as a 'holy warrior' to kill whoever he wants."

Ambrosia has to suppress a groan as she hears Libra's nonsense, they were really doing this now?

"I could call in witnesses to prove Steve's evilness, but why do that when he already committed an evil act right here and now? Instead of bravely carrying the burden of the curse for himself, he instead selfishly makes another person to carry the curse for him. Then not only that, he forces that person to be evil! Isn't that against everything a paladin stands for? Or am I wrong?" She appears puzzled for a moment as a book appears in her lap which she starts flipping through. "Let's see..." She spends a few seconds reading before suddenly throwing it away. "Okay, that told me nothing." She is quick to point a finger at Steve again though. "However! Not only did you force this person to be evil, you made sure they would have powers that they could use to hurt others with, through my curse! Or perhaps you were planning to kill them right away, huh? Kinda like killing a newborn, evil, baby..."

Ambrosia raises her hand, looking at the meddler. "May I suggest traits of the people that could carry the curse, great spirit?" Anything to stop this rubbish discussion.

[Recaiden]

The bartender raises an eyebrow. "Well I gotta ask, what business does a cloud of bugs even have with humans?"

[Celticbear]

The bartender raises an eyebrow. "Well I gotta ask, what business does a cloud of bugs even have with humans?"

I'm a freelance guardian spirit. Just say the word and I can act as a scrying block, encase your fortress or other location in a never ending hurricane with which the owner and minions can move through freely, and can take care of those pesky home invaders with utmost ease, rattles off Joe Bob almost like he had said this a million times over.

Last place I was guarding though, oh boy let me tell you, had some nasty strong people invade it. Some kind of ranger and paladin. Had me on the ropes. Only way I got out was by them thinking they banished me with a dispel. Pa-lease! Still though, it sucked.

[8BitNinja]

[Cursed Table]

Libra cackles so hysterically she throws her head backwards.
Then she turns to look at Steve and Luvon with a smile.

"No."

She slaps her hands together. "In fact, your suggestions are so terri-bad, I'm gonna tell you a little secret. See, I actually put a lot of thought into Steve's curse." She claims as she suddenly flops down into a chair which immediately starts floating off with her in it. She is hoovering a few feet above the ground as she points a finger at the paladin. "First, I considered all sort of nasty thingies, but then I realized that the best curse for him was no curse at all!" She declares with her arms spread wide, grinning widely at them. "All I did was switch the color palette of his powers!" Well, a bit more than that...

"Or is that colour? Eh, whatever." She waves her hand dismissively. "My point is that Steve is already evil, or at least neutral, and is just using his cover as a 'holy warrior' to kill whoever he wants."

Ambrosia has to suppress a groan as she hears Libra's nonsense, they were really doing this now?

"I could call in witnesses to prove Steve's evilness, but why do that when he already committed an evil act right here and now? Instead of bravely carrying the burden of the curse for himself, he instead selfishly makes another person to carry the curse for him. Then not only that, he forces that person to be evil! Isn't that against everything a paladin stands for? Or am I wrong?" She appears puzzled for a moment as a book appears in her lap which she starts flipping through. "Let's see..." She spends a few seconds reading before suddenly throwing it away. "Okay, that told me nothing." She is quick to point a finger at Steve again though. "However! Not only did you force this person to be evil, you made sure they would have powers that they could use to hurt others with, through my curse! Or perhaps you were planning to kill them right away, huh? Kinda like killing a newborn, evil, baby..."

Ambrosia raises her hand, looking at the meddler. "May I suggest traits of the people that could carry the curse, great spirit?" Anything to stop this rubbish discussion.

Steve says "You think that you know my entire life because of my one moment of weakness. You think that all the other times I actively championed good means nothing, just because of one mistake?" He takes off his curiass and breastplate and draws his knife and prays "Bringer of Justice, please lend your servant the power to destroy darkness." Because of the curse, the knife seems to be emitting shadows. (Smite Good)
Steve hands over the knife to Libra and says "You might be correct, but I don't know. Let's let the gods decide this. If I really am evil, this knife won't hurt me. If I am, this knife will go into me and most likely kill me. But even if it doesn't kill me, the effect will go away after the first strike. So if I really am evil, why not just do it anyways? I'm no hypocrite, I live to destroy evil, so if I really am evil, then I deserve to be destroyed." If Libra doesn't accept the knife immediately, he will start to push it towards her more aggressively.

[Green Elf]

[Cursed Table]

Luvon sees Steve offer the knife. His eyes widen with not only surprise, but disappointment.

If about 20 more seconds pass before something happens, he will then actually uses his curse to his advantage.
If this happens, Luvon will command Libra, saying, "You will remove all of your curses, remove our end of the deal, then stop cursing and casting on us, and leave the people alone." This is the spell Geas.http://engl393-dnd5th.wikia.com/wiki/Geas (9th level)

[Rebonack]

((Sorry about the delay))

Geneva gives a polite cough. "Unfortunately this isn't something that can we can 'go out and do' very easily. Believe me, I've put quite a bit of research into it. The Nexus is like..."

She waves one of her hands in an explanatory fashion.

It doesn't explain very much.

"Like... well... Imagine it less as its own universe, and more like a place where many multi-verses are bumping into each other. Like a reality crossroads. Dimensional travel spells, from what I've gathered, are typically tuned to traveling within the same multi-verse. Going from one world to another that is similar, though different. That's how the Devon Corporation's Link Cable worked. The Nexus makes that process tremendously difficult because there technically isn't a beginning point for the link, and if you're already back in your multi-verse of origin to make a link, then the problem is solved!"

She huffs, obviously irritated not at the others, but at the problem itself.

She's been working on this thing for some time.

"It's like the Nexus is actively trying to prevent people from leaving. But only some people. And only to some destinations. There are plenty of worlds you can just walk to from here."

[Deathkeeper]

Sam sighs, propping his head on three of his hands.
"So basically, what she's saying is that it's really confusing." he says, brain overloaded by all this technobabble.

[Dr.Gunsforhands]

"Huh... so, then, do regular teleporters not work here either? I guess I'm not really an expert on how they work to begin with, much less what happens when you try to send someone into a demon tower or something..."

Changeling seems unsatisfied by all this. "So we do need to worry about Dad."

"Well, I mean, we're probably fine either way, right? But, maybe I should... can I borrow one of your phones for a minute?"

"Nachos and drinks?"

SUDDENLY, the server returns with a tray full of Tavern Stuff^tm and distributes it across the table before looking at the elemental J. "Anything for you, miss?"

[Ashen Lilies]

"An excellent idea."

Fayyaad leads Cassandra up to his room, which is fairly simple, but clearly lived in. Fayyaad keeps it pretty tidy, and there's a surprisingly luxurious carpet on the floor. Cassandra may be able to notice that it's magical. He takes off his vest, unbuttons his shirt a little and sits down on the bed.

"How is it? Do you see anything you like?" he asks, the double entendre clear as day.

[Upstairs]

"Oh, just a little." Says Cassandra, her earlier sultriness momentarily replaced by an impish grin. "I think I could stand to see more though."

She looks almost nervous as she steps up closer to the bed, chewing her lip as she looks at Fayyaad sitting below her.
"Here, let me help," she says, reaching for his next button.