[Nexus] Trog's Tavern CCXXXVI

[Baeleck]

The sight of the headless being suddenly before him is enough to make Mychasi leap back in alarm. As the grotesque form of Y'golonoc erupts into light and then nothingness, he shields his eyes, and continues to sing, just in case.

Then, glomp ho! The boy is tackled solidly in the back, though manages to keep his balance.

"I did?" This brings a toothy grin to his face. "Does that mean I can have some brownies now?"

If the answer is yes, he will hurry back inside to get some!

[Rebonack]

"Ummm..." the girl blinks.

Then glances back at the door. Squints her red eyes a little. Finally she looks back at Mychasi and smiles!

"Sure! I don't see why not! Stinky old Y'golonoc is already taken care of!" and with that she'll spin on her heel and pull the door open!

The well is gone.

As is the endless heap of brownies.

Though there's a normal heap of brownies on the counter still. Exactly as many as there had been when the dragon had first entered the bar!

Score!

The girl skips in, humming cheerfully to herself.

[Rotting Baron]

Originally Posted by FireFox

Ally undeadtimes and looks around while she waits for her drinking partner to suggest a safer place to go.

Ashley also undeadtimes. That ooze was nasty stuff. She gives a quick look to the door, and looks to Ally. "Listen, I think you should get out of Inside. Head to an organization."

[FireFox]

Yeah, that HALO place under the sea should be safe. Ally looks pale, like she's doing a moderately good job of concealing how scared she is. What about you?

[Rotting Baron]

"Okay." When Ally asks about her, the illusionist shakes a little. "I think I have to stay. I have something they need."

[FireFox]

What are you talking about? Who's "they"? Ally growls in frustration, turning some of her fear into anger. She really wants to get out of here, but doesn't like the idea of leaving Ashley behind.

[Rotting Baron]

Ashley cringes a little. She doesn't want to make Ally angry, she was her first real friend in this world. "The people who are trying to stop all this."

[FireFox]

Well let's find them, give them whatever it is that they need, and then get out of here. The young woman crosses her arms and scowls at the illusionist. She has a rather impressive scowl.

[Rotting Baron]

"No." Ashley manages to screw up some courage. "I was told to hold on to it. I need to keep it, and I don't want you in danger."

[FireFox]

Ally stares at Ashley for several long minutes, then turns her back. Fine. Go be a noble fool. Just don't come crying to me when you get killed and eaten. I'll just... I'll just run away and stay safe, cuz I'm the smart one.

[Rotting Baron]

"Ally..." Ashley hangs her head for a few very long moments. Suddenly, though, she tries to hug her friend from behind. "I'm sorry it's like this. If... if I survive, I'll want to see you again."

[FireFox]

Huh. Well you just better survive then, you silly dell. Ally is hugged and tries to turn around to return the favor tightly.

[Rotting Baron]

"Don't worry. I'm a bit stronger than I look." Ashley's hug is returned. It'll be pretty easy to feel that the sorceress is shaking, and only partially out of fear.

[FireFox]

Ally tries to take the illusionist's hands. May Canignis, the God of dumb heroes who run into danger to help other people, watch over you. Ashley may find herself moving lighter on her feet and more aware of threats, as if the young redhead was a cleric giving a blessing.
Ally flashes her a smile, then suddenly tries to give her a daring kiss on the cheek before hurrying out of the Tavern.

[Rotting Baron]

Ashley giggles as Ally gives her surprisingly effective "blessing." Then she blushes a little bit when she's kissed on the cheek, smiling widely. "Bye." A few moments after Ally leaves the tavern, Ashley does as well.

[Chaotic Bob]

Originally Posted by Baeleck

"I can't say I've ever visited the Nexus expecting 'safety'."

That would be a silly thing to expect.

Raril's appearance is met with a concerned look from Niara, before he rushes off!

"Oh. No worries then."
Rather comforting to have someone recognize their impending peril and still be willing to help along with it.
Very respectable.

Xeni gives a forced little smile, genuinely trying to appear happy.
But there's too many things going on at once here.
Too many things to lose.

"In that case, we'll be looking either for that girl, or an itty bitty silver dragon. Hopefully alive."
Because if she isn't alive.
Bad things will happen.

[Baeleck]

Respectable indeed. However, Niara has the benefit of being able to leave at any time she chooses, thanks to her funky dimensional door. If stuff gets too hot to handle, then she's out of there.

Somewhat less respectable. But hey! At least she's helping at the moment.

"She'll be alive," Niara reassures. She's his niece. How could he think otherwise?

----------

The brownies are pounced upon!

The boy Mychasi sets to work shoving a few into his mouth in quick succession and gobbling them up. He makes... a significant amount of crumby mess on the counter and the floor.

No table manners whatsoever.

It doesn't take him long to eat his fill. Whilst he used to be able to eat solidly for maybe half an hour, it is no longer the case. Plus, he didn't want to leave the tavern without any brownies to sell.

Especially when Zee wasn't here to make more.

Upon turning away from the counter, Mychasi grins at the half-drow girl again, before noticing someone over her shoulder.

It's Xeni!

He might know where Karaglen is.

"Come on," he says to her, "I've spotted someone who might know where my friend is."

[Rebonack]

The nameless half-drow girl, who as some may have already guessed is one of K'rax' starspawn, gingerly picks up one of the brownies and smells it. ...it smells... Nice?

She hasn't ever eaten anything before. So she watches Mychasi carefully to get an idea of what she's supposed to do.

How does the dragon go about it?

OM NOM NOM *slurp chomp* NOM NOM NOM!

The girl carefully takes a small bite out of one corner-

-and her eyes widen!

"Ohmygoshthisissogood!"

OM NOM NOM NOM!

The rest of the tiny cake is devoured in short order.

She's now licking her fingers as she heads over toward Xeni as well.

[Chaotic Bob]

"I hope so."
He should believe she's alive, yes.
But this city can't always be trusted with these things.

Whichever spells he'd had monitoring her have long since expired, so a simple check isn't possible at the moment.
Have to do things the hard way.

Xeni turns towards the door to leave, too distracted to notice Mychasi over there.
To the door!
"Mind the far-spawn, miss."

[Baeleck]

The girl's cry of deliciousness catches Mychasi's attention, and he turns just in time to see her polish off the snack.

"Yeah, Trog's do the best brownies around." Not that he'd ever compared them to other brownies...

----------

In the moment Mychasi turns his head, Xeni and Niara head out the door!

"Thanks for the warning," she says, as she reaches to the bracer around her arm.

She twists something along the side, and the thing gives a mechanical *clack*.

Wonder what that's for?

[Rebonack]

Oh noes!

Xeni has escaped!

The little chimera girl doesn't understand the significance of this. She was sent to help protect Mychasi during his quest and that's it. But now she has been distracted by something very important!

A new quest.

A new purpose.

The supply of brownies on the counter is woefully small.

"I know! They're good because Mother makes them! And you know what?" she smiles a sly smile! "She taught me how to make them too! Just like she does! We should fix some more."

[happyturtle]

Sounds from the kitchen:
"piggy! come back piggy!"
"snort hrwonk oink!"

Suddenly the revived bamhacon bursts out of the kitchen, chased by Baby, the dwarven orc bouncer, waving a butcher knife.

"piggy! be good piggy! come back and be bamhacon again!"

Piggy is rather alarmed by this suggestion, and wants nothing to do with it.

[ApeofLight]

Crissellea Lachonues comes strolling into the tavern with a smile on her face. She looks around before taking a seat at the bar.

[happyturtle]

And if Crissellea doesn't move quickly, she might get bowled over by a fleeing pig and a crazy dworc!

"piggy! come back be bamhacon!"

[ApeofLight]

" Eeep! " Crissellea wasn't one for moving fast at a moments notice like that. Poor girl gets knocked down and off to the side landing on her rump. " Owww... "

[Baeleck]

Originally Posted by Rebonack

Oh noes!

Xeni has escaped!

The little chimera girl doesn't understand the significance of this. She was sent to help protect Mychasi during his quest and that's it. But now she has been distracted by something very important!

A new quest.

A new purpose.

The supply of brownies on the counter is woefully small.

"I know! They're good because Mother makes them! And you know what?" she smiles a sly smile! "She taught me how to make them too! Just like she does! We should fix some more."

Mychasi stamps his foot in frustration. Why did people keep vanishing off in the moments he's not looking? Grr!

He would pout a bit about the whole ordeal, but his eyes light up with excitement at the proposition of brownie-making. Learning the secret to the prefect brownie is too big to miss out on.

But then, Kara was terribly important...

No, she'd be fine out there, helping people out. He's sure of it.

"Alrighty then! Let's make some brownies!"

Because making brownies is totally the best thing to do when the apocalypse is on the way!

[Rebonack]

The chimera girl is just charged to keep Mychasi safe. The plan was to allow him to go on one quest (which he hopefully wouldn't die during) and then keep him busy until things blow over.

That way he would know that he helped save the world!

And if he helped save the world then why would he have to worry about ending the world? Right?

Right!

So brownies.

A delicious distraction.

"Mother keeps ingredients for them near the counter 'cuz the kitchen isn't safe sometimes," the girl mentions as she begins collecting bowls and flour and chocolate and so forth.

[Baeleck]

Well, the plan was working so far. His initial concern about being the cause of all this has been dispelled, not only through the distraction of brownies but also because it made sense. Of course he wasn't causing all these horrific things!

Now, onto the cookery.

"How come?" Mychasi queries, as he hurries back up to the counter and begins bouncing impatiently on his feet. "Is it anything to do with that thing that lives under the floorboards?"

[Rebonack]

It's a very clever plan!

And hopefully it will end with Mychasi being full and sleeping peacefully when the world is saved.

...or when That Day arrives.

If the latter then the chimera is supposed to take Mychasi through the mirror and to the shadow plane. Place might be creepy, but there won't be any terrorhorrors there.

"Mother says there's a mean ghost in the kitchen that sets her on fire and throws things," the girl explains as she measures out the dry ingredients and passes them over toe Mychasi.

"Here! Mix this stuff up."

They don't look much like brownies yet...

[iElf]

Din sighs, and sits calmly at the bar, staring at any and all drow in the room, making sure they aren't a threat. if there are none, she will go and see if baby wants to talk