Weather Downcast

Log Info

• Title: Weather Downcast
• Emitter: Ashes
• Characters: Ashes, Elyanna, Merek, Shara
• Place: A07: Fernwood Pub
• Time: Wednesday, January 06, 2021, 11:05 PM
• Summary: Ashes, Elyanna and Merek go to the Fernwood, and are joined by Shara. They talk about the weather, which Merek decides to change. It's followed by a discussion of boots, and the weight differences between a male Human and Arvek Nar brain. Ashlee plays with her menagerie while Shara elaborates on Hymn Weaving, and how she works magic. Merek then explains the Hymn of Creation, his concern about Animus and his time in the Iron Hells, in brief. Shara leaves, Ashlee follows soon after. Merek and Elyanna remain, discuss things. Her Bludguni origin, for one, her disappointment in Alexandrian justice, her intent to atone for her previous misdeeds in life. Merek explains he is Kulthian and offhandedly remarks she has nothing to worry about in her soul ledger. This doesn't molify Elyanna. He explains his perspective and offers to solve her problems. Elyanna leaves.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A07: Fernwood Pub *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

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.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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.
Merek        5'10"    215 Lb     Human             Male      A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Shara        5'2"     120 Lb     Dawn Elf          Female    Red haired Elf w/green eyes 
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Outside, it's terrible. The icy northwest wind howls, blowing snow about in savage gusts. The cold is intense. The city mitigates it somewhat but can only warm and deflect so much. All the chill keeps the sky a clear deep blue in which the stars glitter, brilliant as diamonds.

Inside, it's warm and cosy. Except when someone opens the door and brings the outside with them. An ash coloured Arvec Nar does so, and has the rudeness to hold the door for others to follow and let the snow blow in meanwhile. She stares around the Fernwood, looking for faces. When she finds one, she stares at it until they look away, then moves to the next one. Thus, greetings are exchanged.

Elyanna bows her head to the ashes Arvec as she steps in with a quick Goblin, "Thank you." She steps a pace or so from the door and a couple raps of her hardsole boots, she dislodges some snow, while forceful shrugs casts the weather from her raven feather cloak.

Merek walks along into the place with the two Arvec, then he nods to Ashlee, "Thank you." He does take a look to Elyanna and seems to consider it, listening to the snow. "It's nice weather, for Alexandria. I wonder what the Planes are like, probably the same, though I'm doing a full on study which is about their seasonal weather as well." The man finds a place to settle in, dark attire adjusted about with that scarf. "The orders are on me."

The door opens, and a red haired elf walks her way in humming a tune to herself. She waves to the bartender as she makes her way to the bar. "Mead, please. Meat and cheese as well. If you can manage it, can you bring some pheasent instead of beef please?" The red haired elf says as she sits at a barstool.

The ashen Arvec stares at Merek, "Are you on this plane now? It's very cold. It's not nice weather." She made less effort to dislodge snow, preferring the heat of the room to sort it out. Damp clothes are fine. She takes a seat. She puts her satchel in her lap.

"Sure thing." The Bartender says, sliding a mug of mead towards the red-headed elf. Her order is passed back to the kitchen, "Pheasant and cheese. It'll be right up miss."

"It is arguably more pleasant than it was last year." the red woman notes to Merek's comments on the weather. She looks to the ginger elf as she passes, then returns her attention to her companions, "What does this place have on offer?" she wonders, settling into her own seat at Ashes's table.

Shara smiles and sips at the mead. "thank you." She says to the bartender before looking to the group behind her. "Greetings, everyone." She says in a soft voice.

Miriam, the human server, is on tonight. There's a moments hesitation when she sees who has arrived, then she walks over, "It's simple tonight, stew, goat or pheasant, or not in stew, and some bread and carrots. There might be some things for a special order, I could ask Chef to look."

GAME: Merek casts Control Weather. Caster Level: 13 DC: 21
GAME: Merek rolls 4d12: (34): 34
<OOC> Merek says, "Prepare for 34 hour Merek-weather time."

"Ah, well I like it," Merek admits, then he nods to Shara a little bit, then he begins to make signs with the hands, working the chant. Do a little dance, it's... Well it's pretty interesting, he will let them order while he takes a moment to begin all of that magic. Eventually, he would finish.

Merek also lifts up a boot to show to Elyanna and Ashlee, which looks like the boots of winterland.

"That's a nice boot." Ash says in monotone, crossing her arms across her chest. She looks cold. She isn't, but she's trying to coax her familiar and friends out and they aren't convinced it's warm outside yet. She stares at the server, "A glass of red wine. Pheasant Stew, and any little bits of leftover on a separateplate."

After that, a nod towards Shara, "Hello."

"I'm guessing you're cold." Shara says with a sigh as Merek does more powerful magics. "Well...I can start you on your way if you don't mind Hymn-Weaving." Shara says as she starts to hum a tune....and attempts to get the dampness from Ash's clothes.

Elyanna glances past the boot to the well wishing, "Hello." she offers in return. Her attention turns to the ashen one's antics, then, of the server, she requests, "A plate of pheasant, and red wine." There's a curious look between the two as they start casting. You paged Elyanna with 'you might guess where they took up residence'

Merek takes a little while, though he finishes that magic, with a nod along to the party. He then takes a look to the door, "About ten minutes," the man notes, then he takes a look to the server as well, "I would like to order a nice blackberry mead, if you would. With that in mind, he nods a little bit, "Well, you two are doing well? And you?" he asks of the three at the table. Shara's order arrives, slid in front of her.

"Yes. Thank you." Ashlee replies in monotone, continuing to hug herself and wriggle a little. Finally she extends her arms, rests her hands on the table. There is fluttering of movement beneath her clothes, along her sleeves. A mouse appears from one, a white lizard from another, and then a very large centipede crawls out of the neck of her shirt, over her face and up into her hair. "Yes. The Winter Dead make my job much easier, except where I have to wait for them to thaw. They're almost always pre-decay. Chippen and Carbuncle don't like this as there aren't any bugs to eat."

"Glad to help." Shara says softly before she turns back to her food. "And thank you as well." She says as she begins to eat. "I don't feel well when I eat beef." She says softly after eating some pheasent. "Sorry if I spooked you. My magic comes from music."

Elyanna settles back into her seat, arms folded loosely as she looks to Merek, first, "Well enough, thank you." she responds. Then, Ashes starts to disperse critters, and her eyebrow arches, "Dicing meat does not work?" The musical reference from the elf draws her eyes now, and the red woman seems more fully engaged, "Truly now?"

"Thanks!" Miriam says, accepting the apology. She slips into the back, returning with the food order for the other table. Plates are set down in front of Elyanna and Ashes.

Merek nods a bit, after a little bit, the snow outside begins calming from the weather, while he takes a moment to drink from the mead when it's brought to him. "Anyway, with the things like Animus, pretty nice to find a little relaxing time, I admit." "They feel like they're helping when they eat bugs." Ash explains, making sure her food is in the middle and pets are divided. She looks at Elyanna, "Dicing their meat works. They eat leftovers too."

She takes a small sip of wine, a spoonful of stew, and selects a small piece of meat that she holds out to the centipede on her head. "Ten minutes and what happens?"

Shara looks over to ELyanna as she continues to eat. "Mmhmm. They're called 'Hymn Weavers'. Music, singing, sometimes comedy.....Great to keep a group motivated while they're in a battle."

Elyanna glances at the serving girl when she returns and places down their meals. A little bow of her head follows with a quiet, "Thank you." Ashes's explanation gets a little nod and a, "It is good they wish to be useful." she supposes, though the 'ten minutes' brings a curious eye to Merek. It's quickly as the elf replies, her attention turns then, "I have never heard them called that."

Merek nods a bit, "Ya, I changed weather about for a few miles," the man notes, then he smiles, "I like the familiars," that mentioned about the two with the woman Ashlee, and nods along to Elyanna, "I agree, it's nice to be useful." He then nods to Shara, "I'm Merek, by the way."

"Oh. Only a few miles?" It's all Ash can think to ask. She takes another spoonful of stew, checks the mouse, checks the lizard. Her centipede is easier to deal with, familiar and all. Swallow, a sip of wine.

She looks over at Shara, her skull face expressionless and her words flat. "I'm Mourner Ashlee Ciaradh. I prefer Ash. I've never heard them called Hymn Weavers either. I motivate groups by telling them I'll handle their corpse if they die."

"I am Shara. And Hymn Weaver is mostly another name for a bard. But There are bards that actually follow the Singer and Vaire. I follow the former, much to the chagrin of some of more....xenophobic bretheren in Silvermoon City. However, Some of the more devout of The Singer 'get the joke' and are revered pranksters across the land." She then lowers her head to Merek, Ash an Elyanna. "there is one very very old and nearly forgotten tale that explains about 'The Eidolon Hymn'. While it is a primal force, it only reacts to certain 'stimuli'....is a good way to explain it. The Singer, for instance, could draw it out through song.....or comedy."

Elyanna blinks sidelong to Merek, "So casually?" Ashes means of motivation are conceded with a thoughtful nod as the Hobkin woman reaches for her utensiles. She considers the elven woman anew as she elaborates on the fundamentals of invoking certain forces with will and tempo, "Some were called Keepers." she answers, "Though the esoteric side is less commonly sung of in those parts. More chant and cadence."

"Hymn of Creation, it's said to be the base for all the world," Merek then adds, while he nods a bit to Shara, "It does seem to be worked upon only by music and art as well," he notes. The man nods a bit to Elyanna, "Well, it takes a lot of magic working that spell." The man looks to Ashlee, "Ah, interesting motivation." He thinks on it, "I try to be a little bit diplomatic."

"Oh." That explains everything. Ashlee stares at her stew. There are no mysteries hidden in it. There is none in her wine either, but she takes a sip just in case. Another spoonful, slow chews. She strokes a finger along the back of her lizard. He is occupied with a particularly large chunk, trying to eat it all at once and unable to get his mouth around it. She takes it away, pulls the chunk in half, then places it back. Her mouse is doing fine on her own, sitting hunched up like a little fuzzy ball and rapid-nibbling away on a piece of bread.

She looks at Elyanna. She looks at Merek. She looks at Shara. Ash struggles for something relevant to say. An interesting fact to show off with perhaps? Chippen taps her head. "The weight of an average male Human brain is 1336 grains. A male Arvek Nars is 1427 grains."

Shara actually giggles at Ash as she says that. "Mourner...you do not have to impress us with your forensic knowledge. The fact that you are a Mourner is impressive on it's own." She then smiles to the Arvek. "However, If you are searching for The Grey Harpist's Temple....once you find the temple district, there is a path from there, up the mountain. You'll find guards at a set of doors in the side of the mountain. There..you will find her temple, as well as those that are allied with her, such as Lancers."

Elyanna hmmm's softly on Merek's appraisal and returns, "But, the deed, itself. So casual." Ashes has been the red woman's friend long enough that the offer of such grim information isn't a terrible shock, though the weigh discrepancy is somewhat intriguing. Does that make her smarter than a human, perhaps? Then Shara is speaking anew and she takes that all in as she starts to cut up her pheasant, having nothing to add on that score.

"Interesting, what is your theory on what this means to knowledge, and physiology in addition," Merek asks Ashlee, while he nods to Elyanna a little bit, "Yes, though the magic itself isn't as valuable. It's wisdom," the man nods a bit, while he smiles, then looks about to Shara, "You new to the city?"

"Thank you for the directions." Ashlee answers Shara, looking her way with a long stare. She goes through her rounds again, check the lizard, check the mouse, have a spoonful of stew, have a sip, check Chippen.

Merek's question is a conundrum. She was rather hoping the fact would be enough in itself. There is really only one obvious response, "It speaks for itself."

Shara manages to finish her meal as Ash thanks her for the directions. "You're welcome." She then looks to Merek just before she finishes her mead. "I am not new, but have been away in Silvermoon to visit my great grandchildren for a time. But I have returned for the time being." She then slips off of the barstool. "For now, I shall head away to meditate for the night."

Hmmm. The interplay with Ashes and Merek draws her attention, but she doesn't interrupt just yet. The interplay could enlighten her on some of the vibe Ely's been getting for some time, now. Instead, as Shara states her intended departer, the hobkin Keeper inclines her head that way and intones a quite polite, "Be safe, Hymn Weaver, I would like to hear your song one day."

Merek looks then to the woman, nodding along to Ashlee while he thinks about it, "You are right," he notes. The man nods to Shara, "You be well," then to Elyanna, "What's your homeland like and all?" he asks.

Ash checks over her critters, they seem fed. She picks them up and lets them run up her sleeves to wherever they're hiding out. Chippen senses the impending doom: Cold, or Fire, or whatever Merek ordered weather wise, he skitters into the Arvec's shirt and vanishes. She takes the last spoonful of stew, then finishes her wine, grabs her satchel and stands.

"I have to go." She turns and leaves. She's at the door when she remembers to act like a normal person. "Bye."

Then she's gone.

Elyanna watches Ashes gather her critters, and gives her a soft Goblin, "Farewell." before the Mourner is out the door.

Merek's question brings a glimmer of introspection to her eyes, and she brings a forkful of pheasant to her lips to buy more time to consider the dynamics of the question. She swallows the bite after chewing, takes up her wine with a certain regimented poise and sips to wash the meat down and quietly explains, "I was born in Blar, but my upbringing was Bludgunni. I would have that clear before I venture to answer, as your question may be born of other expectations."

"I know little about either aside what I know of history." Merek nods, then he takes a sip from the mead, "Whatever you are willing to share, you don't need to," he then admits, while he takes a look to the door along with the weather about.

"I will answer with what I have, then." Elyanna replies academically, idly swirling her wine, then begins, "Bludgun operates differently in some ways to Alexandria." She considers the ripples of the wine glass and her companion, "Ogresses stand atop the ladder, with full Arvek beneath, the Oruch and Goblins lower still, then..." a languid, expansive sweep of her hand about the room, "These under heel. Or food." she pokes her fork into another bit of bird and brings it to her lips, "It is a land of the lash.... and one lives under the popper, or siezes the handle." Her truths intoned in part, the bird ends consigned to the interlockng points of her carnivore's teeth.

Merek drinks from that mead while thinking about it, "Why ogresses? I know the goblins are eccentric almost anyplace, I note." The man leans back while listening, "We are assisting in treatment of people from a war, I think that it might involve the two, "Back when Silvermoon was making deals with a Duke... I think a lot of places seem to think they know best what is for the people, even Alexandria, it's..." The man nods a little bit to the weather, "I am trying to change what I can while we work on apparently bringing back a god to life."

Elyanna shrugs, "Because they siezed power and held it." she replies offhandedly, "No legal sophistry or back chamber deals. They hold power by wit and strength. Until Blar." There is another sip of wine, "I am not surprised, that Blar cut itself from Bludgunni rule was quite the affront. It is more a surpise it took so long to act, than the thing, itself."

She turns back to her wineglass, then, crossing her legs at the knee, "I came to Alexandria thinking it to be a better place than Bludgun. A place I could learn to offset the sins of my upbringing."

Merek lifts up the two gloves which he wears to bring into being what looks like a few crystals. The man begins arranging them while he speaks to Elyanna, "Well, I'm Kulthian. At least distantly, in addition to being from the desert." The man nods a bit to the woman, "I don't even need to use magic with you, I can tell. You are fine, there's little red in your ledger to work on."

Elyanna sips her wine again, "So certain, then?" she wonders, then turns her attention to her pheasant. Her knifework is a little more aggressive than it had been previous, though the Hobkin's face seems untouched by any new ire.

"I was within the Iron Hells for three months, perhaps more even," Merek notes, "That puts a lot into perspective," he then admits, while nodding a little bit along to the woman.

"So you have stated." Elyanna replies between bites. finishing another, then chasing it with another regimented sampling of wine, "What did you do to earn such a fate, then?"

"I exchanged my own life to take another's place, it didn't work as well as planned because someone tried to protect me about it," Merek mentions, while he nods a bit to Elyanna.

Elyanna hmmm's softly, "Noble of you." she states thoughtfully and takes another sip of her wine, "Though a much different scenario."

Merek nods a little bit along to Elyanna, "I will add a lot to it, though it's... Well, not things I like to generally think about."

The red woman has nothing to add to that for now. Her hands busy themselves with getting more bird to her face, still refined and poised. "What exactly did you do to the weather?"

"I just made it snow lighter for a little while," Merek admits, "That will be for about... 34 hours, will extend two miles around in a circle," he then adds.

Elyanna hmmm's, "Certainly not a trivial feat." she notes, and finishes off her meal, "What will you do, now?" she wonders.

"I will probably be back to my study, and you know, take a while and try to relax," Merek notes then to Elyanna, "It's been a long week," he then admits.

What else is there to say to that, but, "Indeed."

She looks to her wineglass again and finishes it before flagging the human down to request another glass with the same manner as before. A sigh through her nostrils, then, "What more of this god you mentioned?"

"Ah, well people want to bring Animus back, we're collecting Shards from when he was killed, which might bring that god back," Merek would note while he nods, "I don't think it's the best idea."

Elyanna hmmm's again and laces her fingers, "I expect there to be significant consequences, no matter the drives, or outcome in any event."

"That's the truth, and even servants of the gods agree that to be, which means a few of the gods don't want them to do it," Merek then notes, with a nod.

"Nothing for it, but to prepare for another calamity, and hope to be pleasantly surprised." Elyanna replies bitterly, then shakes her head.

"I have my own plans to keep that from being an issue." Merek notes.

Elyanna arches an eyebrow, but, "In my experience, best such things are kept, what is the term, here, 'held to the breast'?"

"I will think about it, in any case, do you have any plans?" Merek asks thoughtfully.

"I will return to Blar." Elyanna replies quietly, "I expect to do more good, there."

"Ah, I... Well, I don't know what to think about that," Merek admits, nodding.

"I have oft found deceit and corruption, and little of the virtue of which I was told about this place." Elyanna answers evenly, rising at last to her feet, "This last business with the sisters and earlier with the kobolds shows that Bludgun, at least, is more honest for the lack of pretense." She shrugs her cloak closed to enshroud her form once more, whips and all, "In Blar, I expect never need break another soul."

"Kobold?" Merek asks.

Elyanna is half turned on her heel by the time the question comes back and the woman stops, her cloak untwisting as it unfurls back to rest about her. A beat, and her head turns to regard him over her shoulder, a subtle ire in her expression, "A Leftenant in the Guard hired a group of adventurers to track down some Kobolds who had allegedly stolen his Thunderbelcher and were using it for brigandage." She faces forward aga a moment, "I was assured by another soul in the know that the claim was false, that the Leftenant's pursuit to claim the weapon led by other folly to leave them better armed."

"I will speak with that man, I made a promise with a friend to keep any kobold I can safe," Merek would note, while he stands up. He then shifts the crystals to arrange the weather back to normal in ten minutes, "Thank you for the information." Then he walks along to the door, "Walk safe, Elyanna."

Elyanna shakes her head, rolling her eyes, "Has the affair in court shown nothing?" she asks incredulously in a low, conspiratorial hiss, turning back to him, now incensed, "To what end? Another quarrel with the guard? Another useless show?" She turns away and shakes her head, "The kobolds escaped, and we slew the mercenaries he hired as a backup plan."

"Well, I have my own ways," Merek then notes, nodding a bit to Elyanna. "Anyway."

Elyanna straightens then, as she clearly isn't going to dissuade him and so she turns to face him anew and bows her head, "As you would, then. Walk safe, Merek."