Boogle Boogle

Aragos doesn't have much purpose in the artificer's hall himself, but his daughter comes here pretty often due to her relevant interests. Thus he is here more for her than for himself. He stands idly near the front door, his back leaning against the nearby wall as he casually watches the comings and goings of the various people who are interested in artifice for one reason or another.

"I really should show more interest." Aragos says to himself, a low murmur meant for his own ears. He smiles half to himself. "Not that I could build so much as a tinkering ant."

GAME: Thoth rolls Acrobatics: (6)+4: 10

Has Aragos ever seen a bird do a sick kickflip?

Well, today is still not that day. As Aragos stands around waiting for Gramarye, there's a sudden jostle, a clatter, and then a crash as a metalic avian falls in front of Aragos. It is followed by a hovering rounded board lazily following after... and bumping into its butt with a disdainful 'bump'.

Thoth, the bird in question, lets out a frustrated sound, while the 'hovering' metal slab keeps bumping against its butt, backing up an inch, and then bumping forward again.

It slowly gets up, and taps a metal rod to the device, after which it immediately goes inert and lazily drops to the ground.

Realizing it is in fact standing near someone, it turns that long beak all the way up and stares in confusion at the Paladin. It takes a moment, then declares; "Greetings, Aragos. This one identifies you are currently 90% less drunken than is average for you at this time of day. This one asserts you are here to receive a Challenge Coin for your first week sobriety?"

Aragos blinks several times at the avian war golem that falls at his feet, but it's not really so much the hovering board (which is interesting but not really worthy of that much attention in a city like Alexandria), or the attempt at maneuvers poorly performed that has him blinking. No it's Thoth's greeting. "Sorry, do I know you?"

He can't place the avian war golem in the least, but he colors a bit at the mention of his drunken (or less than drunken state at the moment) and frowns. "Hey, I'll have you know that I haven't had a drink in something like three months. Whatever a challenge coin is..." He flushes a little darker. "I promised a friend that I'd only drink if he was around and I always end up distracted."

The bird blinks slowly at the 'do I know you'. It should not be surprised the man doesn't recognize him. Last time they met, Aragos was quite drunk. "This one is Thoth. This unit is allied to Gramarye, your caretaker-daughter." It answers.

And at the frown and admission of three months, and not knowing what a challenge coin is, it lifts a finger. "Please hold." It turns. "There are many Lucht Siuil and Khazad that work this place. So a small group started a Sobriety group." It steps into a nook too small for Aragos to get into - clearly made for Gobbos and the like. The avian casts a spell of Reduction on itself as it approaches, making it easier to step in.

It takes a moment, rummaging around, until it finds something, then steps out. It then motions for Aragos' hand. "Please hold out your hand." Waiting patiently.

If Aragos does so, the bird puts a firm and rather heavy feeling coin into his hand. It carries the Kulthos symbol for the number 3 on it, stylized with the shape of pipes and sprockets. "Congratulations on your three months sober. This one is proud of you."

Aragos has to bend over to offer his hand, which he does somewhat reluctantly. Yet if this little war golem is a friend of Gramarye then it stands to reason that there's nothing unpleasant forthcoming. He holds out his hand and then stares at the coin that is laying there. "Ummm... I appreciate it I guess." He says uncomfortably, and pockets the coin. "So, you're friends with Gramarye? That's nice. I haven't noticed that she has a lot of those, so I'm glad to hear it."

"You can come back after six months, to receive the half year coin. This one hears that the one-year coin is especially pretty. Those who hold it are very proud of their achievement." Thoth chirps. It obviously is not part of this matter, being a Warforged, but it listens well.

"The group meets every Sunday, at sunfall. If you ever feel you require assistance, this one can aid in putting you in contact with someone." It chirps helpfully. It then tilts its head at the term 'friend' being used.

"This one is uncertain if it qualifies as a 'friend' to Gramarye. This term is difficult for this one to understand. But it believes it is an ally to her." It remarks. "Do you require any additional assistance? This one can seek for Gramarye if Aragos needs her. This one can also provide other services. This one also requests that, if you have any non-fiction books on history or other such subject matters, and do not need them anymore, to please surrender them to this one. This one is working on a moving Library."

Aragos tactically ignores the bit about the coin and coming back for some kind of 'meeting'. It's just not something he much cares about - now anyway. He smiles at the bird golem though. "Friends and allies are nearly the same thing. Friend's are just a bit more helpful outside the actual combat stuff." He feels awkward explaining it, but Gramarye is the same way as Thoth. Missing certain things that everyone else seems to know.

"Don't worry about bothering Gramarye, she'll come out when she's ready, and I don't mind waiting. Though I'm sorry to say that I'm not one much for history. Or books really." Aragos shrugs and scrubs a hand through his dark hair thoughtfully. "You know anything about what sort of creature might be able to make a whole village forget that half the folks that live there are gone?" It feels like a stretch to ask a random friend of his daughter's, but... He hasn't anything better to do or anyone better to ask.

GAME: Thoth rolls Knowledge/Dungeoneering: (18)+17: 35
GAME: Thoth rolls Will: (8)+7: 15

"Understood. This one will not bother Gramarye." It notes. "And understood. Friends aid outside of combat." It isn't certain if that is the best definition, but it's what it has right now, so that's what it'll go with for now!

"And yes, this one does know if a being like that..." It squints a bit. "Though this one doth not remember its name..." It adds. The Avian seems rather bothered by this. "But that is not unnatural. It means this one must have encountered one in the past. You speak of the creature that Sings a song of Forgetting, yes? Not through Magic, but through nearly inaudible voice?"

Aragos thinks furiously for a moment. Song of Forgetting. He can clearly remember a terrible migraine every time he goes to the village. Perhaps he is hearing the song, but the 'inaudible' part means that he only feels it without actually hearing it. "That sounds about up my alley." He smiles a small almost mean smile. "Hey, you wouldn't know where the thing's name is written in a book would you? I've noticed that it can make folks forget it, but that it can't erase evidence of its existence that it doesn't have access to."

"Yes. This one does. Its name can be found within the 'Aberrations of Memeticism." Thoth answers. "Though you may have trouble finding it - it tends to appear when you most need it." It adds helpfully. "It is a book co-written by followers of Deimos and Tarien. So consider this when searching out this book."

It draws its hands behind its back. "This creature can make people 'ignore' its presence, and the results of its presence. It feasts on living beings. During its feast, it cannot sing. But after it has feasted, it will be quick to sing a song that makes people ignore its victim ever existed." It points out.

"It can be seen within the reflections of glass or other such surfaces, and often closely observes those investigating its victims, to ensure those who are more willful are not found suspicious and continue to remain within its feeding grounds."

It is dictating in a very matter-of-fact manner.

Aragos grimaces. That would make it rather hard to find the creature. "Well then. I'm going to call this thing a Boogle. For ease - it's a name people can remember at least. And I've found one in the town of Warren. I'd appreciate any information on this Boogle that you can come up with. I'm looking to kill the blasted thing." He looks at Thoth hopefully.

"This one believes the best thing one can do to aid you in killing this thing, is to carry earplugs." It remarks casually. "That will lessen the ability for its song to reach you. But not eliminate."

The Wargolem pauses for a moment, then adds; "It primarily lives underground. It favors dark places. Cellars. Caves. Sewers. It can also Burrow into the ground in order to reach a cavern. But it will have a favorite place. This one recommends thine search start there."

All of this is noted mentally by the paladin who reaches out and clasps Thoth on the shoulder in a friendly manner. "That's a lot of help! You've my gratitude. You know... I'll have to go back there now and hunt it down. Take a hunting party with me." He has an excited look in his eyes. Aragos grins at Thoth. "I'll let you know how it goes. And for the record? We're friends too. You and me."

Thoth nods its head. "This one is glad to assist." It answers Aragos, and then looks at its tiny shoulders right as the spell wears off, and it 'grows' into those hands.

It then looks back towards Aragos. "Understood. This one helped outside of combat, so it is now a Friend." It nods its head. "Be careful on your journey and your battle. Both against this beast, and against your addiction."

-End