Not Cat for Dinner

Log Info

• Title: Not Cat for Dinner
• Emitter: Ashes
• Characters: Irshya, Ashes, Elyanna
• Place: A03: The TarRaCe
• Time: Thursday, October 29, 2020, 10:18 PM
• Summary: Ashes and Elyanna, now banned from Ma Rosie's, are taking dinner at the Tarrace. Separately. Elyanna is already there, enjoying the ear-straining wails of the Khazdi bagpipe and violin quartet. A horde of goblins let out of the pool, and Ashlee enters after them. She sits with Elyanna and talks about current events, and shows off a flaming light crossbow. Elyanna remarks that the weapon doesn't seem like something the mourner would use, and she agrees, stating that she took it mostly to have a momento of a swamp and boot-swapping adventure. Irshya, who has seen the weapon before, begs to fire it again and Ash sets it up so she can. The goblin shoots it out the door, as that wasn't one of the proscribed places she couldn't fire it, and Ash is given a free dinner. Which most assuredly, is not cat.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.

The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.

Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.

To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Irshya       3'0"     35 Lb      Goblin            Female    A small, blue-skinned Goblin in sea-green robes.
Ashes        5'11"    177 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face
Elyanna      5'11"    153 Lb     Half-Orc          Female    A grim, Arvek-blooded woman in raven feathers.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Usually, the bar part of the building is full of life and noise. This evening, it is a little muted. Rather, the noise here is being run roughshod over by the noise coming from the baths. A veritable symphony of squeaks, shrieks and laughter. Almost deafening.

And then it goes silent, all at once. A few bar patrons near the door to the baths take this opportunity to edge away from said entrance.

A short time later, a horde of Goblins exits. Water is dripped everywhere. And then... they are out the door, and the noise recedes into the distance.

Ashlee is entering the Tarrace when the wave of wet goblins nearly washes her away down the street. It's easy to get caught up in things and they were rather enthusiastic. Extricating herself however, she approaches the door again and steps inside. She looks around, avoids standing in the water, and sees if there is anyone she recognizes present.

Elyanna is at a table by the stage, lounging in her seat with her chin propped up on an upraised palm, watching the performance. She glances sidelong to the surge of goblins dripping their way toward the door in time to catch the Mourner's arrival. Her hand lifts as the fullblood's gaze sweeps along her way, and the red woman straightens some in her seat.

The act, a quadruple of Dwarves playing bagpipes and violins, seems relieved that they can be heard clearly once again. And they take things to the next level, as far as volume and paces goes.

Irshya appears a short time after the horde leaves, her robes clinging to her, and a trail of wet footprints follows along behind her. She gasps and waves to Ashlee, running up to the woman to hug at her waist. "Hello!", the Gobbo says cheerfully.

"Hello." Ashlee says, in monotone, raising a hand towards Irshya, patting her on the head as she's hugged. Elyanna has been spotted, so she points that way.

Elyanna cants her head a smidge as Ashlee has been intercepted. She halfblood regards the pair thoughtfully, lifting a hand in a thumbs-up before her gaze returns to the performance, a certain fascination she's found with those particular stringed instruments.

The Gobbo is only slightly wet. Slightly. But enough that Ashes might notice. She grins at the Arvek, and then over at the other. She waves at Elyanna, and lets go of Ashes. "Is there something you're like to drink?" Her expression takes on a cheeky countenance. "Did you want to go up on stage this evening?", she wonders softly.

"Water," Ash says, looking askance at Irshya, "I don't want to dance today." She seems certain. She heads over to Elyanna's table and slides into a seat. Setting her satchel on her lap, she looks over at the noble-born and nods.

Elyanna regards her visitors as they settle in with a pleasant, casual Goblin, "Hello, how're you doing, tonight?" There's a mostly empty tankard of something brewed in the way of Bludgun before her, and a plate rendered as clean as her manners allow, "There's something about the sound...." she muses absently.

Ash nods, looking up at the stage. The sound is distinctive, an interesting blend of droning and whining that can be felt in the bones. "What did you eat?" She asks, then comments randomly, "Chippen has been eating a lot of scrolls."

The Gobbo heads to the bar, returning a short time later with a tall, clean glass filled with water. She slips it onto the table before Ashes, and turns to inspect Elyanna's tankard, sniffing curiously. "Would you like another?", she wonders of Elyanna. Her ears angle backwards slightly, away from the 'music'. "It's like a dying animal that's being kicked to a beat heard only in the minds of mad people.", she mutters.

"There's a certain charming resonance." the red woman replies, "I know another goblin, she plays one in several different ways. I find it.... moving." She looks to Irshya on her remark, keeping her own counsel on that, but, "Yes, thank you." before she swivels at last to Ashes' question, "A Myrrish dish, I think. Venison, perhaps Elk, with a very... complex sauce of some kind and herb roasted root vegetables of some sort."

"I'd like that," Ashes says, deciding to give her stomach a rest from explosive chili. The chefs at the Tarrace are skilled and it would be interesting to eat something composed of intricate flavours, and not simply hot. She looks to the stage again, "I'm used to regimental drums."

"Are you sure that you're not going deaf?", the Gobbo wonders, of the two Arvek. The tankard is taken away, and the Gobbo vanishes behind the bar. After a few minutes have passed, she makes her return. "Bludgun Red.", she says, sliding the tankard onto the table. "It has an interesting smell." Irshya's ears perk up a little. "Ah. Uhm." She eyes Elyanna a moment. "Venison with goblin spices? Potatoes, carrots and peas?" Her eyes flick to Ashes. "Sound good?"

Elyanna hmmm's, "There's a certain inexorability with percussives." she notes with a nod, "I used this." and brushes at the coiled lash at her waist. She turns to Irshya with a, "Thank you." as she takes up the tankard duties, "It was a strange word, a burzinyahn or somesuch." she observes, glancing at the plate, then, "It wasn't as hot, but the sauce was very... intricate."

"Yes, that sounds good." Ashlee confirms her order with Irshya. There's almost a tone in her voice, "Do you have orange juice? I would like a glass of that. Too." Attention is returned to Elyanna, she stares at the lash, "An interesting way to make a beat."

Her hands are placed on the table in front of her. "Do you want to talk about the case, or other strange things?"

When the lash is brushed at, the Goblin frowns. The frown deepens at the implication that it was... musical in nature. Ashes's request distracts Irshya, and she nods. "I can get you orange juice.", she says softly.

She hops up and runs off to the kitchen. Shortly after she is through the door, the shouting starts. The Dwarves start to play more enthusiastically. Perhaps an attempt to mask the argument and clash of arms inside the kitchen. A loud gong sound is followed by silence. Irshya returns a short time later, and slides a glass of orange liquid before Ashes. "They're working on your dinner right now.", she says softly.

Elyanna gives a little nod, "It comes with limits. Even paired, i'd never be able to match a proper drum." She then notes the fall in their hostess's demeanor and replies, "I've a lot of things to make up for." solemnly. Her eyes turn toward the Khazad, then to her companions, weighing the mood.

"Thank you." The ashen Arvec says, with a short glance towards the kitchen. She takes up the glass of orange juice, and some of the sunny colour reflects on the stark white of her skull markings. She takes a long sip. Setting her glass down she adjusts her jacket, rocking a little as she pulls on the lapels. "I have a flaming crossbow."

The Gobbo is still a little frowny. "You were a slaver?", she wonders, quietly. "How is a whip, a drum?" Irshya notes the glance to the kitchen and shrugs. "The chef is not accustomed to taking orders.", she says. Her eyes widen and she grins suddenly, looking curiously at Ashes, moving around her chair. "Where? Where is it? Did you bring it with you? I liked firing it off. It is a marvel of workmanship."

"I was." Elyanna replies honestly, "It's the way of Bludgun. If you're not an Ogre, you live behind the lash or in front of it." Her attention turns to Ashes about the crossbow, brow piqued, "I hadn't thought you the type?"

Ash nods to the explanation, and again to the question. She pats her satchel, flips open the top flap, and pulls out the crossbow. It's too large to fit, that battered satchel must be magic. She has to tilt it a little to get the bow free of the mouth. It is a masterwork in dark wood, blackened and silvered steel. Clearly gnomish and intricate. It looks like some kind of Night Sniper weapon.

And, indeed that was the manufacturer's intent. A mistake in enchantment altered the fate of the weapon. It was meant to be Acidic, an enhancement which would have matched its colouration and been less visible at night as well as eliminate evidence of use. An apprentice delivered the wrong instructions with the weapon to the mage, and thus it became flaming. How this rejected masterpiece made it from its maker to Aros is another story, and also one Ashes doesn't know.

She sets it on the table, where Irshya can grab it and Elyanna can examine it. "It was a reward for saving Aros' wife. I don't really have a use, but I trained on a heavy crossbow and this is pretty. Don't shoot it in here, Irshya, or the kitchen. Or the pool."

The Gobbo's cheerful smile slowly falls as Ashes eliminates potential target ranges. It returns suddenly as she goes to heft it up. "Aha, you didn't say I couldn't shoot it out the front door." QUestioning Elyanna's past seems to have completely slipped from Irshya's mind.

Elyanna's past isn't pretty. She's not about to lie about it, though as it seems to be of no more moment, she seems content to allow the topic to sink into the shadows again. She looks the weapon over with a considering eye, and, "It's well crafted. Why the change?"

"I thought it would be nice to have a momento, of going through the swamp, meeting the witches, going further, throwing our boots to the Gnome of the Lake, coming back barefoot, meeting the witches again, killing their cauldron medicine and walking barefoot back to Alexandria." Ash explains, in monotone. She doesn't frown, but it's clear it wasn't a pleasant experience. "The other things he offered were weapons I couldn't use, and the others wanted them. I suppose the guard would have liked it, but she already had a magic heavy crossbow."

She shrugs a little, "a couple times recently, it would have been helpful." She also hasn't contravened Irshya's suggestion of shooting it out the door, or made any move to stop her. Such things are possible.

Emboldened by the lack of restraint, the Gobbo pauses. Offers the crossbow up to Ashes. "Could you load it for me?", she asks sweetly, in a scratchy voice.

Elyanna arches an eyebrow at the story and leans back with an over lean to consider the Mourner's tootsies, then hmmm's. The halfbreed leans forward again and steeples her fingers before looking to Irshya as she wonders after the care and feeding of the weapon.

There's a fair portion of her mind what hasn't disregareded the possibility she's about to get shot.

Ashlee picks up the crossbow and tucks the stock under her arm. There is a small squeak. Stiffens a little, says, "Sorry", adjusts her chest then continues. A stirrup like handle folds out at the front of the crossbow, this allows a lever to drop down from the barrel, pivoting at the trigger mechanism. As she grabs the lever and pulls it further back, it splits in a strange mechanical way that allows it to lie flat on the stock. As it travels that radius, a runner pops up at the front of the barrel, catches the string and takes it back to the trigger block where it latches in. A second catch clicks up. Reversing the motion, cycling the lever back to it's rest position returns the runner. Ash hands the crossbow to Irshya.

"The safety stays on while the carry-handle is out. When you get to the door, flip it down under the barrel so it clicks. Put the bolt in before you do that, but keep the front pointed away." Ash recalls she is responsible for goblins, but, she's having dinner and the goblin owns the restaurant. So, she probably isn't.

Noticing the gaze at her feet, "I got new boots."

The Gobbo watches, mesmerized. She nods to Ashes slowly while the Arvek speaks. Once done, she takes up the weapon, cackling. She runs to the front door. Things are silent. The weapon fires, a solid ka-chunk! In the distance, there comes a loud cat meowl and hiss. Then silence.

The door is closed and Irshya returns to Ashes and holds up the weapon. "Thanks you! I'll go get your dinner. It's on the house."

Elyanna arches an eyebrow at the squeak, but doesn't see fit to remark on it, instead, she takes some interest in the loading process. It seems to load as normal, so, whatever makes it incendiary must happen on launch. She watches Irshya run off with the crossbow and fires. She frowns a bit, though her brow arches.

"Is my dinner cat?" Ash asks, hearing the distant meaowl. Perhaps it only hit near the feline, and set a roof on fire or something. The ashen Arvec dismisses any concern, they're near goblintown, incendary things landing on rooftops are common. She takes the weapon from Irshya and sets it on the table so Elyanna can examine it.

"I think the barrel does it, there are little runes down the bolt-way."

Irshya laughs in surprise, and shakes her head at Ashes. "No! But I will pass your question on to the chef, just to see his face!" Giggling, she runs to the kitchen. There's silence. A loud noise, very brief. Then cackling. The Gobbo returns a short time later with Ashes' dinner. "It was quite good." The plate, with utensils, is placed before the skull-faced Arvek. "There's a cat that keeps caterwauling nearby and it bothers me. So I shot the stone wall next to it. I think it pooped." The Gobbo giggles.

Elyanna hmmm's, "New land, new cuisine." Elyanna remarks dryly, a quirk of humor at her lips, then as the weapon is presented she gives it a intent lookover. She glances at Irshya as she returns with Ashes's dinner and, "What did he say?"

"Oh." Ash replies, fully informed about the cat now. She takes up the utensiles and starts eating. Each bite is slow and carefully chewed, and she appears to be giving the flavours time to spread around her mouth and the sauce work it's magic. Every bite is interspersed with a sip of water, and sometimes orange juice. She nods, "New cuisine, yes."

"He dropped one of his precious pots. The look on his face was worth it.", Irshya says with a toothy grin. "I suspect it'll be days before he speaks to me again." She looks to Ashes as she digs in. It appears to be a success. "Well, I will be working the bar, so if you need me, just wave." Irshya offers a curtsey, and disappears behind the bar.

Elyanna watches Ashes taking up her utensiles and begin to dine, venturing a curious, "What do you think?" She looks to Irshya and raise a hand in a somewhat uncertain wave with a, "Thank you for everything, Irshya."

"It tastes good." Ash says between bites. Long descriptions aren't her thing and she isn't suited to describing the subtle flavours of dishes. She is concentrating, carefully tasting each bite as she chews, occasionally sipping water. "I like it."

"Thank you Irshya," She adds, after Elyanna's example, echoing the wave. The meal is good, and appreciated and her crossbow has proved effective in getting her dinner, even if the way it does so is as indirect as how she came to posess it. A simply magical result.

That's the way things proceed, sometimes. Elyanna considers Ashes's words and takes up her tankard of brew, "I think my welcome has abated." she says quietly and takes a swig. She sighs, glancing about the room, then, "I have concerns..."