Market Crash

Tenebrae - Monday, January 12, 2015, 6:23 PM

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-=--=--=--=--=--=<* A07: Lower Alexandria Market District *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-

Just west of the Northern Highbridge and east of the arena, commerce blooms. Noisy and bustling, most anything may be purchased here for a price. Vendors from all cultures sell their wares from exotically colored carts, and the smells of different nations and far-off city-states mix with local ones from Alexandria and its riverbanks.

For all its commerce, visitors are advised to keep hold of their purses. Even the merchants possess a certain, cunning look. Most are positioned at carts or stalls as opposed to a formal storefront, with trade here being mobile, and visiting from all parts of the world.

Though the quality of goods suffers here compared to Upper Alexandria, the options are more diverse. Too, the oversight of the Watch is slightly less, and during times events are held at the Arena, chaos abounds. After dark, the square becomes a hangout for bards and other entrepreneurs whose business is best conducted by night; the shadows at the edges of the square often contain furtive figures engaging in their own brand of business.

Tiasa is standing not too far from the pub. She is eying it a bit like she might consider moving into it but she has done little other than eye it. She turns and watches those moving through the markets. The mostly blue-skinned sith seems to almost be looking for something.

Zoom, zoom! A small artifice device, with a dozen-mismatched legs, starts zooming through the crowd, chased by a short goblin and a medium-sized half-Mul. "Those are MY parts, you minute miscreant!" Okay, so Solace is actually chasing the goblin. Same thing! The goblin is screaming wheeeeeeee as the device lurches here and there, heading on a collision course for the giant as she nears the pub.

Te'Andra looks like she's about to dodge the zipping mechanical, eyes widening as she doesn't seem to know exactly what it is. Other than a big spyder thing.

Tiasa blinks and starts to giggle a bit at the antics she sees. Luckily she is tall enough she can see over most of the crowd to watch.

Selia yawns and stretches as she exits the alleyway across from the Fernwood. Pausing at the mouth of the alley, the tiny lucht peers around the Market's crowd, frowning mildly at the sudden tension. Far too small to see directly, Selia climbs upon an unused rain barrel, trying to peer over the crowd. "Wot's goin on?"

The goblin artificer screeches, "Outta the way, outta the way!" at Te'andra, and twists a dial on the controller in his hands. The device twitches and rolls...roll roll roll...people jump out of the way until it fetches up, SPLAT against the wall near Tiasa. SPRONG! cogs and springs go everywhere. "Those parts are probably useless, now," Solace growls, and lunges for the goblin. He screeches again, and tries to hide behind Te'Andra - hey, she's big enough to be cover!

Te'Andra seems to rather lithely dodge the flying parts, and looks askance at the goblin trying to use her as cover. She reaches around and swipes at the gobbo, trying to gather him up in one large hand. "Hey!" she grinds with a mountain accent. "None of that now!"

A trio of humans make their way along the street, weaving around carts and carriages while they converse. Ivy stands between the other two, both men looking like duelists or bravos or both, and their words are clipped and indistinct. The commotion ahead causes them to stop short, and the tall woman gives a curt nod to the men before they turn and slide off up a narrow alley. Alone now, she looks on at Tiasa, Solace and the goblin.

Tiasa jumps at the splatting and shakes her head a bit. She obviously doesn't like the technology all that much and does back up and away just a bit.

Selia mutters darkly, hoping down off her barrel to slip rapidly though the market crowd towards the crash site. "Oy! Wot's all da ruckus 'bout?"

The goblin is caught, and hauled up! He has just crashed an artifice device into a wall, and is being chased by Solace - they're near the pub. Solace skids to a halt before Te'Andra. "I ought to have you thrown into the jail for theft...and thank you, miss, for catching this one."

"You weren't using them," the goblin declares, suddenly indignant. "Perfectly good parts, and you weren't using them at all. They needed to be used! They begged to be used!" His voice is certainly loud enough to echo across the market.

Te'Andra says, "Well, I do not need to be impacted by metal spiders with screaming riders. Is this your thrall, then? Should I return him to you?" she hasn't moved at all, but does keep a hold of the gobbo. "Stealing is a serious charge. Such a thing endangers the clan by lessening each householder's ability to survive the bad times.""

Tiasa shakes her head, "That is like asking why take something, oh it was just there." she says with a bit of a hiss to her voice as she is still right there. SHe was almost hit after all too.

Selia ehs. "Ya shouldna be riding 'round like da in da Market. Someone might get 'urt, and dat ain't good fer nobody. Stick ta GoblinTown, folks is better adapt for it there." Because the 'stealing' part isn't what's important here.

The commotion, especially by another Gobber zipping by on a spider-like contraption would catch anyone's eye. Then again the eye caught this time is another Gobber and Flicker skips along after it all to see what is going on. Seems the gobber man almost hit a few others in all the commotion in front of the pub and this is where she skips up to. "And I thought I liked to have a little fun..." It was really a sideways kind of comment meant for no one, but her hand moves up to press the head of a centipede back into her collar to keep the little guy warm.

"Thrall? Uh, no," Solace admits. And now people are looking. The half-Mul looks suddenly awkard, his rage muted if not extinguished by all this talk of serious crimes and people showing up. "It was only a few parts. Do feel free to let him be...I suspect he's learned his lesson." And before any City Guard can show up and start asking questions, Solace fades back into the crowds.

Ivy crouches to pick up a palm-sized sprocket that had rolled across the way and toppled over after hitting her boot. She turns it over in cursory examination as she rises, then walks over just in time to have the gear's rightful owner slink off into the night. "Well," she remarks, looking from Solace's back towards Te'andra and the goblins and holding the sprocket up. "Does this belong to anyone?"

Te'Andra looks askance at Solace, and then releases the little thing. "I don't understand this place, truly I don't"

Tiasa cocks her head to the side as the one guy leaves, "What isn't to understand?" she asks as she looks at Te'Andra.

Flicker nods like a bobber head doll, "All quite interesting. Why understand it really when you can watch and laugh. It was so dull up to a moment ago."

Selia rolls her eyes, not too susprised at folks more interested of keeping away from attention than getting their own things back. Losing intrest, she peers around a moment before heading off towards a small cart, the owner standing and watching like many other. "Oy! Ya gonna gawk, or ya going fire this thing up? Some of us is hungry." Not that funnel cakes are a normal breakfast, but, if you can get them...

Ivy doesn't put up a fight when the goblin artificer-thief leaps up and snatches the sprocket from her hand, and she even nudges a bent spring coil towards him with a toe while he hurriedly gathers up the other pieces strewn around the cobblestones. "Right then," is all she offers otherwise, and looks from Flicker to Tiasa to Te'andra.

Te'Andra smiles, and bows her head to the assembled folk. She seems a bit uncomfortable with the variety of sized folk, and looks at the halfling uncertainly. "Hello there. I am Te'andra, there are so many folk in this place, somtimes it confuses me? And what to understand, is that the Master's Thrall made off with things, and he didn't stay to ensure punishment. That goes against all I was taught." she picks out a bit of metal from her hair. "Ig uess this is all normal to you folk?"

Tiasa has disconnected.

Selia peers back as her funnel cake fries, waiting impaciently for the sweet dough to cook. "I'ma just guessing, but reckon while dat stuff were 'is, it were na orginally 'is. Commotion wot brings da Watch would na be good for 'em."

Flicker shrugs a little at what Te'Andra, "I suppose, honestly a lot of the time a Gobber might consider something theirs if they think they want it more than someone else wants it. Then there are different laws here I would imagine. Better to make a bit of gold and pay for it, then you know you really wanted it and you chop the hand off any other gobber trying to take it. Then that is what my dad would have done to a thief int he village." She doesn't seem all that sad at how she describes it, stills smiling and happy. "Hello everyone... I'm Flicker, Daughter of the greatest chieftain of all times, Cracker."

"You're likely right," Ivy states, looking over a shoulder at Selia. She gestures loosely at the retreating goblin, bolts and bits spilling from his arms as he scampers off. "Some of that had the look of Charnese steel."

Te'Andra just looks startled and puzzled, still. "Charnese Steel? What is that? I know of good, coldhard steel, and soft iron. There's different types of steel?" she grins, and looks over at the dough being cooked. She seems a bit startled at the concept of a stree tvendor. "That looks interesting" she says and steps over there. "Might I have one of those oil-cooked crust-streams?"

Selia ehs. "Ain't nuthing worng wit owning solid steel." The Low Charn of her own accent a bit strong. Glancing to the goblin, she shrugs. "Selia ShadowKin, Dancer. Issa is 'round 'ere someplace, maybe still nappin." She blinks at Te'Andra, taking her own funnel cake to nibble upon. "Few copper get yer own, might gotta wait in line though. Anyways, ain't all steel alike. Iffen I remember, Charn uses higher carbon content, makes it strong, but brittle. Or sumthin."

The little gabber gal nods as Selia introduces herself, the topic of steel not much of an interest to her, but more why was everyone wanting these dessert things. Now that makes her more curious and zips around to get in line. Anyone can tell she doesn't like the lone as she fidgets and looks around the legs of taller folks over and over to see if its getting any shorter. Finally she gets to the front and pays for half a dozen of the cake thingies, paying, even the cartman selling it raises an eyebrow and wonders if the gobber will eat them all herself.

Ivy's shrug eloquently expresses her own ignorance on the finer metallurgical points. "Something about it makes it look more yellow than what's forged in Myrddion. A blacksmith might know why." She swings her attention to Flicker and dips her head a measure. "I'm Ivy."

Te'Andra looks around, wondering at this line thing. She's not real clear on what the order of such things would be. She just looks at the vendor, and hands over the copper. "Let me know when it is my turn for pourded crust. And I will come back and pick it up." She turns to Ivy, Selina and Flicker. "A pleasure to meet you all. I am new to the town, but have been advised it is good to be an adventurer. Is this something you all agree with?"

"Mmmmuffpt. Mmmmm mmmmrrrr pff." Selia chew and swallows. "Good place as any, better 'en most. Been 'ere since Sendor War, treated me well enough."

Finally getting her food, the gobber plops one right into her mouth, opening wide to take it all in and chomping along. Flicker waves between each piece and tries to speak a bit, something about demons, highway men and adventuring being good if you understand garbled speak around the tasty confections. She wipes her mouth after one, "ITs been incredibly fun so far. You get to bash on knees and shoot things. though my spells don't work so well on demon's yet." She does stress the yet before plopping another one into her mouth. Probably not going to be a good thing, all that sugar in such a hyper little being.

For her own part, Ivy spends a few moments simply staring at Te'andra - blinking once or twice for good measure. "I never thought of it as something to be taken up on a whim. There are hardships to it." She furrows her brow and looks around at the surrounding city for a thoughtful instant. "Though, perhaps having a home to come back to at the end of the day makes it easier."

Te'Andra says, "I am to be told folk here have jobs, and the Adventuring job is one that pays well, for danger. It may be the person speaking to me was more impressed by my size than anything else" She turns to Flicker. "I have not yet tried my magics on Daemons. Only snow and ice. And a dire wolf, onct""

Selia mmms darkly. "Demons is tuff. Go long with a BrightBlade, much better. Cold iron iffen ya gotta." The little lucht frowns a moment. "Or maybe is silver. Can never keep track."

Flicker looks to Te'Andra and never really noticed the size thing, but then most everyone tends to be taller or bigger than she is. "oh Dire wolves. Why? You could have friended them and taken them for a ride. It is alot of fun. And it was amazing! There was this paladin lady, she summed a beautiful horse and this lance made of light and went charging in... I was so impressed I warded her first, to help protect her. And some evil wave of energy about killed me. It was so great! I want to grow up enough to kick some Demon but like that... Guess in a different way. Not really much for obeying those gods wills and such. Mine are much more of a talent I got when I was young. And feeing what Douse feels." She tosses away a couple of the food things she got, they weren't in interest any more and probably a good thing and reaches in to pull out the centipede from under her collar, "This is Douse the Dastardly and I'm Flicker the First. Or so Basil said he would write a book about me eventually named that!"

Little people, big person, flying funnel cake, crawly bug; Ivy's head swivels around trying to keep track of everything and she's soon exhausted by the effort. "It does sound exciting," she allows to Flicker's tale, stepping past as she does to get one of those crunchy fried treats for herself.

Te'Andra steps up as she's indicated hers is ready, and reaches into the oil herself and picks it out. She bites immediately into it. "Interesting" she says, looking considering. "Is Douse your food?" she asks, not getting named animals aren't food. "Excitement is fine. Gold and platinum is better"

Selia ehs. "Full belly and safe place ta sleep be even better yet. Sides, plat be heavy. Gems is easy ta carry."

The little gobber gal dances, "Money is good yes, but I got this lovely cloak. I think the rest of them felt sorry for little Flicker. But they wanted me to have it to protect me better." She twirls a little, the centipede clutching around her hand as she does, quickly like it was used to Flicker doing things like that. "Its so pretty..." Seems she remember then what Te'Andra said before that, "No... no eat Douse." And she walks right up to her and looks up at her from below, "He is my friend... Only friend I had when little. He crawled into bed with me one night and has never left me."

"There are riches enough to be had, if that's what you're after." Ivy moves back to stand near the others, the warm cake in her hand throwing steam into the cold night air. "Fame and glory as well, if you seek it."

Te'Andra says, "Fame and glory are all well enough, but Right now, money and danger seem a fair thing to quest for!"

Selia fehs. "Don't gotta quest fer danger. It'll find ya soon 'nuff." She nods in agreement to Flicker. "Good friend is important ta 'ave. Lotta blokes act like yer friend, but ain't really. Important ta 'ave one ya can always count on." Though she makes no effort to get any closer to the bug.

"Oh yes, fame and glory for sure. Then I can go back and rule with an iron boot... Try and make me marry some dullard who can throw a rock further than the rest. I don't think so." The little gobber looses her anger that quickly it seems, indeed Flicker might be a good name for her and the sugar was starting to rush through her. She twirled a little more, stopping to look at everyone there, now and again, "Yes and friends, Godwyn I like a lot, she's pretty and strong. And Basil he is a friend, such a flirt for being a long ear, tall and pretty sort. He called me pretty though, so I like him and he sings so beautifully and plays the lute so well."

There's something of a flicker that passes across Ivy's face at the goblin's last remark, her free hand betraying her thoughts with an absent brush of fingers across the strap of her own mandolin. Whether it's interest or irritation at the mention of another musician is hard to say. "Have you found it easy to make friends here?" she asks Flicker and Selia both. "Acquaintances, certainly. But friends?"

Te'Andra turns and looks attentively. "Yes, you seem difffernt than the other Small folk here . How do they accept you?" Seems she's somewhat interested. "I have not had anything but a glefull welcome"

Selia ehs, and hesitates. "Folks is friendly 'nuff. But proper friends? ...nah. A few, but nay many. Though reckon be much me high standards fer da term as for quality of thems applyin."

Flicker nods and makes a regal pose, "Of course I'm different... I'm royalty." OR so in a way one supposes in a very small part of Gobber society, but she thinks so and her father told her she was. "Most are so slow and dull witted. Though a few of those device making ones, I've found that interesting even if I can't work with such things." Yes she is a gobber and even has a gun on her so she isn't shy to artificer like things, "Yes many friendly people, so far few friends here... Not like Douse." She pets the centipede still wrapped around her hand and wrist, "Aren't you so cute..." Flicker then looks back to them, "One has to get to know a person before being friends or flattery works well enough. Trust... that is the thing. So far trust on ones life and future. Then it seems we will all be adventurers... So that is good, maybe we will all be good friends."

Te'Andra shrugs, and smiles. "I suppose it might be cold for you out here. Perhaps we could walk indoors, for your comfort. I know many of the lowlanders aren't used to winter the way my people are" she looks at Douse, still not clear what the thing is. "How do you judge them good friends like Douse, or not? What scale do you use?"

Selia peers a few moments at the term 'Royality', but lets it pass. "Fer me? Them ya be willin ta get blind drunk with."

"Great thing is I never really get cold or warm... Guess it helps having a few magical knacks for that since I never really liked wearing armor or anything." Flicker smiles when she hears about drink though, "Now a drink I could go for.. fill in all the spaces in the tummy with warm goodness. Besides, the stuff they have here is far better than the swill they make back home."

"But really, if a smile is all it takes to mend a broken heart? Then smile I will, my dear... The end of times itself could not stop me from affording you such a luxury..." Ah, it seems Basil is at it again. The Llyranesi man just can't seem to give up his romantic prose or charming words. The struggle is... indeed real. He walks backwards in front of a youthful flower seller. She is far too young to be a romantic interest, most likely just lost her play-school boyfriend for the first time and is mourning. He plucks one of the flowers from her basket, placing it in her hair before taking another. He places it in his own and offers her a few coins and a wink, "And now we match. Come for me one day, my dearest! I will wait for you under the moon atop the tallest tree of Llyranost!" The youthful girl giggles before bounding off, "Ah! Youth..." Basil intones turning to walk away. It is then he notices Flicker. He gives a wry smile before sneaking up to her, "And how does this day treat you, Your Highness?" A tease behind those words.

Te'Andra looks over, and indeed sees the First Bard she met here. The one with the Yetidroppings in his voice, but yet a wamr heart, she estimates. "Hello Basil" she says, with the smile she promised him last night. "Still giving out the lines to the girls, I see" She turns to the mage-goblin. "It is good to be comfortable. Perhaps they have Khavass, that's truly a Giant's drink"

Selia blinks at the arrival of Basil, peering a few moments before allowing herself to grin. Glancing to Te'Andra, she blinks innocently. "Think they got swill in a gaint glass, call it 'Khavass'."

Now Basil hadn't gone unnoticed by the dark eyes, squinting up as he flirts up the flower girl, but then as he addresses her in that one way her face lightens and nods like, damn straight your highness, or how she heard it anyways, "Speak of the devil and he will appear." There is a cheesy grin Flicker flashes and then hugs the man's leg for a tiny bit, "Good to see you again so soon..."She flicks a head from Te'Andre and Basil, "You know her too? And oh, oh, come on we are thinking of geting a drink... have a drink with us." The little Gobber gal dances around the people, clearly the sugar was making her even more hyper it seems. "Yummy warm and spiced... That is what we likes."

"For me," Ivy answers Te'Andra, though her eyes measure Basil carefully while she speaks to the giantkin, "a friend is one who'll not only refrain from leaving a knife in your back, but help to take it out." She blinks, turns to look at the large woman and conjures up a bright grin that immediately dispels the overall gloom that'd been hanging around her from the start.

"Well see," Basil taps his cheek, those pouty lips musing as brilliant blue eyes consider some unseen thing, "You were just so adorable small with Douse and the jump in your step that naturally I had to go seek out your opposite to balance you. Isn't Te'Andra lovely? Her hair reminds me of the mountains in winter, and her smile could light up a room!" He frowns, "Though she refuses to let me join her clan! Truly a mistake. I would make an amazing member.. Oh, the stories I could tell..." He spins in place before he suddenly notices Ivy. There is a hesitation, then a slow walk to her side. He looks at those lovely silver tresses and into the painted eyes, "Why so glum, sugarplum?" He flits his warmest of smile before peeking behind her back at the mandolin, "If I were to guess... I would say your instrument is tuned to a minor chord. How could it not be, promise you'll play?! Oh! I bet it would be so touching...." He touches his heart, "A song about a woman who was banned from her house for loving the wrong man.. a rakish youth who trainer her horses.... They rode together on long nights and sweet days until... And accident took him. But in that final moment, he reaches up.. and touched her delicate lips...." He swoons before he catches Selia, "I just love sad stories, don't you?"

Selia tries hard not to grin at Basil. "Nope. Lived too many of 'em. And try ta tone it down, would ya? Is gettin pretty deep, and some of us is short." The little lucht's accent practically drips with Low Charn. "Anyways, iffen we gonna head in, reckon best be doin it. Winds startin ta pick up."

Te'Andra just looks around. "This you call wind?" she asks, clearly surprised that it was even noticed. She takes a step, then another heading into the waiting doors of the local tavern. "I almost guarantee that they don't have Khavass" She looks over at Basil. "I tried, he does pile it up pretty deep. Don't worry, the Small Folk can always use me as an anchor"

Flicker skips around and in through the door as its held open. She speaks back to them all, "Flowers grow best in that... Besides I like it." She scriches her face up cutely and, "And I used to live where it covered everything along with other foul things. I like the flowers though." She skips further in to find a place to sit and see what the pub offers for spiced drinks.

The common room of the Fernwood Pub dominates the inn, spacious and airy because of the high, vaulted ceiling. Ornately carved beams of dark, polished wood form a lattice overhead, supporting the arched roof two storeys above the floor. To the right of the double-door entry is a spiral staircase, winding upwards to a balcony that rings and overlooks the main area. Large windows at this level grant an excellent view of the river to the west and colorful market stalls to the north and east. An air of coziness is salvaged by keeping the pub dimly lit; parchment-shrouded mana lanterns hang at intervals from the base of the balcony, nestled amongst lush, magically propagated ivy and ferns that grow over this false demi-ceiling and the struts that support it.

The bar is sleek and simple, comprised of meticulously polished black lacquer. Tables are set under the darker niches formed by the balcony floor as well as on the balcony itself. A few are deliberately sized to accommodate halflings and gnomes, but the majority are meant for human-sized individuals. A large common table is on the main floor, set before a semi-circular stage situated against the western wall. Beside it, with pipes mounted upon the wall and running up past the balcony and almost to the ceiling, is a refurbished pipe organ made to look like the one lost when the Fernwood was destroyed during the Merkabah Siege.

Ivy tears a piece of her fried dough off and pops it into her mouth as she steps through the doorway into the tavern. Chewing around a half-smile she follows the goblin, lucht and giantborn to wherever they decide to have a seat. "He does go on, doesn't he?" she observes about the elf lagging behind on the street. "I can see why you're fond of him." This last given with a look down at Flicker.

Cesran is sitting at one of the back tables and he has a book open. He is reading it and so is the staff that is stood up beside him. He will occassionaly turn the page or take a sip of a green drink that's next to him, but for the most part he's just reading.

Te'Andra knees up to the bar, and looks around at what's on order. "Ale" she orders, clearly, and points to what is probably a bucket for cleaning the place up as the container. "I'm here to judge the quality fo your drink." She chuckles quietly.

Selia peers around a moment as she walks in before heading swiftly to the bar proper. Grabbing a pair of bar stool, the Dancer moves them with practiced skill to a central table everyone can fit around. The regular sized table, with a regularsized barstool, makes for just high enough for compact little folk like herself. "Hard cider fer me, with some o' dat cinnimon liquor, heated, thank ye."

Flicker nods and nods, "He can obviously see all my specialities and my nobility. And knows his place..." She grins wide as she finishes and sees it all as more humorous then reality. She isn't blind or stupid to see he is a flirt and fickle one at that, "Though in all regards... I can sense in him the goodness and the willingness to sacrifice of himself to life and those around him." That probably is the most profound thing the gobber has said so far since she arrived and puts her hand down on the table to let the Centipede crawl down onto it. The place was far warmer than outside and more comfortable for the little guy. "Oy, now what can we get to drink. I've tried the spiced rum before... ", at the mention of hard cider and cinnamon liquor she nods, "That, that's what I want, same thing."

Ivy gets for herself a small bottle of sour wine and a pewter cup. Common drink for a common pub. "Oh, I'm certain he's harmless enough," she says in agreement with Flicker's own assessment before throwing her attention upwards and around the room's ceiling. Offhandedly she adds, "This is my first time in here."

Audax makes their way into the pub, looking around while moving to the side out of the way of the door.

Cesran finishes off his drink and he leaves his book and staff at the tables as he goes up to get another one. He nods politely to Flicker as he waits for his turn to order a drink. "Green hornet please." He asks the bartender when his turn comes around and he leans against the bar.

Te'Andra glances over at Audax as he enters the pub. "Hello" she says and gets her bucket of ale. She looks over at the bard, and winks widely, taking a drink. She looks at Cesran, and checks whether there's actually any hornets in the room. Hornets are difficult to stop."

Selia shrugs lightly, and takes a long pull of her warm cider, sighing in contentment. Peering aorund a moment, she waves to Cesran. "Oy, hornet boy! Come over! And bring yer staff. Reckon folks would like ta meet 'er!"

Audax bows to Te'Andra and smoothly makes their way towards the bar to put in an order for a mug of wine.

The gobber gal waves to Cesran and Audax, Flicker gets her drink and takes a sip of it. Smacking her lips she picks the large flagon up and takes a long draught next, "Now that is good. Cesran... Seems I've heard that name around these last few days in town." The gobber looks to the so named man and looks him over.

Cesran holds out his martini like glass as the bartender mixes and fills it with a liquid of a vibrant green color. "Not much to tell about myself I am just a wizard." He leaves his staff with it is as the moment although the dragon head on the staff gives a yawn and moves around as it stretching it's neck.

Ivy shifts herself around to lean with her lower back against the edge of the bar and quietly looks on at Cesran. The staff, it seems, gets little notice by comparison. "For all that I've seen, seldom is there such a thing as 'just' a wizard."

Selia nods to Ivy. "He's just tryin ta be humble, or sumthing. As ya can see, ain't very good at it. He's a smart bloke, but little thick sometimes. Most wizardly sorts are."

Te'Andra smiles, and shakes her head. "I doubt there's any such thing as Just a Wizard. There are wizards, and just folk, but there are never just wizards. They are subtle and esoteric folk. It's the magicin their blood and bone. Makes them all bubbly"

Flicker raises an eyebrow and hiccups once before taking down another drink before she puts her own spin on it, "Bubbly? Who is calling Bubbly magic-ans?" Flicker is the epitome of bubbly perhaps and hyper, "But then I'm one to be talking being all shamanny like." Her hands swirls around a little and the sugar and her metabolism work quickly with the drink she is ingesting. Her eyes watching her own waving, curling hand. She then thanks the server as she brings to the table a sliver of meat beginning to turn bad and looks as if it was pulled out of the trash. Douse her centipede is all over it once it is laid down before him.

Cesran shrugs a little bit as he takes a drink of it "Well that is all I am just a wizard, no more or less, to fancy titles or made up names, just Cesran and just a wizard." He smiles at Selia, "I am glad that you hold me in such high regard." He says as he raises his glass. "I think that you are thinking of sorcerer, they are the one sthat usually claim that their magic comes from the blood and they have within them the lineage of great dragons or mages or outsiders."

"They claim as much because it is true," Ivy remarks dryly. She lifts her cup to her lips and savors a dip of the strong wine, and her head turns to let her gape a while at Audax instead.

Te'Andra says, "No, the magic is in the blood. It's just how it comes out that differs between magi and the naturapaths. The parts of the liver that control the powers are different""

Selia nods solemly to Cesran. "Well, am tryin ta butter ya up for a favor. Though don't mean ain't true." She squints a moment at Douse and his meal, but doesn't object. The tables may have started clean, but has been a while since they were really sanitary.

Flicker raises an eyebrow, "I've heard that one before.. Outsider... Wait I'm no get of a demon and certainly no dragon. Though my mother did think I was a hellion when younger." And when has that changed most might think, "Demon's be foul things... I'll give you some bad luck if you don't take that back. No demon is popping out of my throat like that rich human's son. No way, he exploded... No coming back from that. No ways. Shaman... wait, perhaps Witch comes to mind more for non green skins. Can't wait to fly like my mother..." She raises her hands and makes a zooming noise, obviously the threat wasn't much of a threat as her mind moves on to something else. "Zoom!!! She used to fly me around... I miss that."

Audax tilts their head back to sip the wine, listening to all the odd and sundry conversations going back and forth without seeming judgement.

Cesran nods, "It was a tragedy what happened to that poor man I pray that his soul is safe in the Grey Halls and that he went to his just rewards." He smiles at Selia, "All you have to do is ask and I can tell tell you true if I can do it or not." He takes a sip of his drink, "Ah yes witches I have heard of them and read up on them, like sorcerers they seem born with their magical power, but it is channeled through a patron creature. I'm assuming that centipede is your patron?"

Te'Andra simply continues to drink. "Either way, Wizards are well known to be fonts of knowledge. Studious persons who know things. Dangerously wise, to be said"

Selia blinks idly at Flicker. "Yer a finger-twinkler? Figured ya for a rangery sort." What? Centipedes are a perfectly acceptable animal companion. Nodding to Cesran, she shrugs. "What ya know about places bigger on da inside? Seen some of them bags that hold more than they should, but looking for a might larger. Saw a bloke once, had a tapesty of a room. But when hung it up, could walk inta da room, like was a door. Door ya could take down and roll up."

Ivy tips back her cup and drinks down the remaining wine in a gulp, then sets it down beside the half-full bottle. A few coppers are drawn from her purse and set on the counter before she pushes away from the bar. "You'll excuse me," she mumbles to no one in particular, attention already riveted on the exit.

Flicker nods some more and as Cesran mentions Douse she looks down tot he centipede, "Douse helps, but he's my friend... always has been since I was little and he needed help. I healed him then though I never had been able to do that before he showed up. That and warding people... The spells came soon after that, I just knew what to do, though I've been told I can learn as well, my mother explained it a little bit. That Douse here will never leave me and how I might learn it through him." Flicker looks to Selia then and takes out her pistol, "Every gal needs a gun. Besides they are fun to fire." She waves it around a little, "Never can be too careful, besides my father gave me this before I left the village." She then puts it away and picks up the centipede who was happily digesting meat and hugs it close, the thing wiggles for a moment before seeming to droop in resignation knowing he would be put down soon, as he is put down a few moments later, "So cute, isn't he?" Douse goes back to eating his meal. "Ivy you leaving? Bye bye?" She waves a bit and smiles before taking another long sip from her flagon of whatever it was now before her, not caring much what only that it is good.

Cesran hmms a little bit as he considers the question, "Well there are such thinks as portable holes. It can create a room about 10 feet or so. You have to be careful with them, especially if you have bags of holding on you." He nods to Ivy, "It was nice to meet you." He smiles, "I had the choice when I was learning between a familiar or learn to bond with an item. I choose the item, although I have to admit that familiars can offer companionship that the items can...well most items can't."

Ivy has left.

Selia raises a hand to the departing Ivy, and blinks innocently at Cesran. "What's wrong with magic bags? I mean, a bag bigger on the inside, inside of a space that's inside of a place that ain't quite there hurts me head, but that ain't dangerous... is it?"

Te'Andra says, "I don't know either of familiars or objects. I'm more of the sorcerous type, I think. Thought I did study very well. They can fail and bad things happen then."

Flicker shrugs, "I'm glad I have Douse, made it easier when my mom passed. Knowing I had the same abilities as she did or will. And I don't know anything really about exactly where they come from. She wasn't exactly specific about it... and no clue on bonded knick knacks. My gun has been given down through many generations. I suppose that makes its special, more than my father giving it to me before I left that is."

Cesran nods, "Not to get too technical, but if you put bag of holding into a portable hole it causes a rift in the astral plane and if you place a portable hole in a bag of holding the same thing happens only you'd get sucked in as well. It's best to either have or or the other." He explains and he hmms, "The sea of mana, that is ultimately where all magic comes from."

Audax continues to drink wine and listen to the various explainations everyone offers up. Apparently having nothing to add, the Egalrin observes quietly.

Selia nods slowly. "So... dat universe don't like stuff bigger on da inside being inside stuff that's bigger on the inside. Good ta know." Glancing around the table, she frowns thoughtfully a moment, and shrugs. "Think what I do be study. Don't reckon either Mum nor Da 'ad much ta do wit it."

Te'Andra standsd as she finishes her ale, and pays. "I think heading to my room is to be desired, now. Good night all of you. It has truly bene a pleasure.

Flicker nods and waves, "Indeed, it is quite the pleasure." The little gobber is good and warm now, "The sea of Mana... I like that, but my mother told me we came about because of a battle between two gods... Eluna. I like her. the other I forgot... don't really pray much to the one as it is, never felt right... But I like that sea of mana idea."

Cesran nods, 'It's best not to speak the Shadow Sorcress' name aloud you don't want to draw her attention." He nods to Te'Andra, "Have a good night." He looks to Selia, "Well it's more about having an extradimensional pocket inside of another one, they don't react well."

Selia frowns. "The Dark Bitch. Ain't good ta say 'er name, if nay fer attractin personal attention, then for attracting attention of dem wot got a vested intrest in 'er. One side or da other."

Flicker considers that, "That's about how much my mom summed it up between the two... and an uncle that thought otherwise. They got into a fight one time and it went really bad. I don't even know if he is alive after, slunk on his belly out into the wilds. Never saw him again, but my mom was never the same after or for much longer herself." The centipede looks towards Flicker as she speaks a bit more somber... liquor and a possible sugar crash might be happening, then she pops up and shakes her head a little, "After that, I was always thinking of leaving home, make my way int he world and return home famous!"

Te'Andra has left.

Cesran hmms, "I am sorry to hear about the conflict between your mother and uncle." He says as he finishes off his drink, "There are other witches here in the city, I know of a few, as well as the society for progressive arcanists, you can find information and help there as well."

Selia nods. "Ain't good when family fights. World's got enough troubles without bad blood 'twix them who share blood."

Audax finishes their drink and wanders out as well.

Audax has left.

Flicker finishes off her drink and the centipede is almost done with his trash scrapped meat as well, "Yeah, family is family, but I'd still like to shop of his...." And a few bits of gobber-talk, something that can't be expressed in common so easily for the gobber gal being a bit tipsy, "...that would suit me fine to be able to do eventually too."

Cesran nods, "Well I'm afraid that I have to take my leave of you two, Selia if you need any help with that portable hole let me know I will see if I can craft one for you." He nods to Flicker, "It was good to see you again with less demons this time."

Flicker waves as Cesran moves off, "Yes less with the demons though with you and Godwyn there... It was amazing to watch. I shouldn't have been there. I wasn't ready for something like that. See you around regular, old wizard."