Curious Discussions

In one corner of the room which is far from the warmth of the fireplace, a xian man sits using his hands to communicate with a mage sitting across from him. The mage has an expression of superiority and irritation on his features while the xian man looks perhaps bored? There's a raven perched on the xian man's shoulder, and his dark eyes are all for the mage sitting before him. Whatever the conversation is, it doesn't seem to be going well if the sharp gestures are any indication.

The door suddenly blows open with a SLAM, a small form clinging tightly to the handle, a look of surprise on her face. Her cheeks, already rosy from the cold, blush further as she struggles to close the door against the wind.

Huffing, she walks to the bar, her embarrassment quite obvious for all to see.

"Could I have some tea, please?", she asks of the barkeep. While waiting, the wee woman looks around the place, pulling her fur and wool cloak closer to her.

Randolf is right behind Xasany, his meaty dwarven paw catching the door just before it closes. He steps inside, looking none the worse for being out in the blustery cold. Being from the snowy mountains, this is just a balmy breeze for him. He's also a good bit bigger and heavier than his fellow shortstack, and he shoulders the door to with ease. Giving the lapels of his robe a tug, he lumbers over to the bar, hopping up into one of the dwarf-height stools. "A mug o' mead fer me, an' a round fer the house!" he booms cheerfully. "-This- ol' chuff's just aced his Transmutations final, an' I'm in the mood tae celebrate!"

The door opening causes the xian man to straighten, but more the announcement of a free round of drinks. He makes a motion with his hands toward the mage and the mage frowns at him. "It's about to get loud in here."

This is followed by a quick bit of signage from the mage, who is recognizable as one of the lower-ranked mages from the Arcanists Guild. "You agreed, there is no turning back now."

Whatever the words are, they make all expression on the xian man's face disappear and he stares at the mage in such a way that the other man shudders and murmurs that he meant no offense. "I know." A quick sign from the xian man dismisses the conversation and the mage rises to his feet easily, heading for the door. <handspeech>

The finger-wiggling gets the Gnome's attention, and she watches the conversation curiously, her expression thoughtful. The barkeep has to snap his fingers at her to get her attention, and she sheepishly hands over coin for the tea.

She steps over to one of the tables set aside for smaller folk, and from there she watches the 'mage' heading for the door.

Xasany offers a single cheer for the Dwarf's success, grinning brightly. "Is that the one where you have to change into a frog, and then back again?", she wonders of Randolf.

Randolf digs into his breast pocket for his pipe and tobacco pouch, looking quite pleased with himself. A glance is given over towards the two hand-signing. He perks a shaggy red brow as he works on filling the bowl, but he averts his eyes. It's not polite to eavesdrop. Instead, he turns his attention to Xasany. "Nah, I lucked out on that one," he says with a chuckle. He tamps his pipe with a fingertip before tucking the bit in the side of his mouth. "This one was phase state changes," he says, tucking his tobacco pouch back into his pocket. "Had tae manage perfect sublimation of a substance. Ice tae mist wi'out stoppin' in between." He snaps his fingers to conjure a spark of flame, taking a moment to get his pipe fired up. Once he has a hearty glow kindled, he banishes the flame with a flick of his wrist, puffing a billow of sweet vanilla-honey smoke into the air. "Askin' a dwarf tae show mastery over -ice-. Too soddin' easy! HAH!"

The doors to the fernwood pub open up yet again with a chill wind that keeps most of the tables near to the door vacated. She shuts the door quickly behind her, before looking around. She spies a familiar dwarf, who she gives a large wave to.

The xian man doesn't seem much inclined - unlike some in the pub - to join the festivities. He does order a cup of hot water and watch the jubilation taking place. That imparted by the free drinks, and that which stems from the dwarf's accomplishments.

"Of course, Khazad are well known for their cold demeanors and icy temperment. And living high up in the mountains. So it is no shock that you're a natural at turning to ice." She grins cheekily at Randolf. "You'd have thought they'd have challenged you to change into stone... but probably that's even easier than ice, yes?"

She giggles lightly and runs a hand through her hair. "Are you able to change into any animals? Or are you working with just the base elements, currently?"

The Xian man is once more regarded curiously, though the Gnome is keen to avoid the attention being noticed.

"If you want to learn how to change into a sludge or ooze, let me know, I can help with that!", the green-haired Gnome offers to the Khazad.

Randolf takes the pipe from his mouth so he can pick up his mug of mead, tipping it back and guzzling it down in four hefty swallows. He bangs the mug back down on the bar, releasing a thunderous "BRAAAAALPH!" He grins broadly, pushing the mug over to the tender. "Another!" As Seyardu arrives, he smiles brightly, waving back in turn. "Oy, Sey! Peace on yer nest!" he booms. The dwarf's in a cheerful mood from the look of him. But that turns into an owlish blink as he looks back at Xasany. "Er, what? No, I dinnae turn -meself- intae ice! I'm a wizard, nae a druid!" He lifts his pipe to pull at it, but the gnome's last offer has him coughing on a lungful of pipe smoke. He thumps his chest, eyes wide as teacups as he stares at her. "No, lass. I do -not- want tae turn intae a sludge -or- an ooze, thank ye -verra- much."

The cleric continues walking through the pub until she finds where Randolf was sitting, dragging one of the large stools she found along the way with her to sit down at the counter.

"What is this, is someone threatening you with being turned into a sludge?" Seyardu asks, after glancing back to Karasu. "I do hope not, that would certainly be rather unpleasant."

Karasu notes the look from Seyardu, and remembering the sith-makar from previous encounters tips a finger in her direction. It's a bit wry. In any case, he waits for his cup of hot water and then pours a small package into it. Wuya eyes the pub with interest, but neither of them moves from their seat in the corner. Not yet in any case.

The Gnome cants her head slightly. "Oh. You mean... you're just changing ice to mist? Something that... happens naturally?" The disappointment is real.

"I thought you were changing yourself into different elements, which is far more interesting and has many practical purposes." Xasany huffs, eyeing Seyardu a moment. "No, I was offering to show him how to do that, change into a muddy liquid." She glances back to Randolf. "It's an easy way to escape a confined space, or to douse yourself if you've caught fire, or hide in the swamp. Quite useful."

She glances at Karasu once more, as he fancies up his water with mysterious herbs.

Randolf wrinkles his nose a bit at the gnome. "Ice tae mist wi'out passin' through the liquid water phase," he says. "That's nae exactly -easy-, ye know!" He harrumphs, puffing steadily at his pipe for a moment. Changing to muddy water has him headtilting. "Pah. If I wanted tae escape a confined space, I can just cast Dimension Door. An' if yer on fire, ye just stop drop an' roll, right? An' if I'm needin' tae hide in a swamp, I'm sure I can find a patch o' bog tae hide in." He pauses, then frowns. "Wait. That'd be even worse, I'll warrant."

"Ah, I see. That could be useful, certainly. But Randolf does have a point, sending ice directly to steam is not easy. In the natural world, it happens very rarely, the ice not stopping to be a liquid before turning to vapor." Seyardu shrugs to the gnome. "Most magics tend to just destroy water outright, as well. But I would not discount suggestions like that either, Randolf. A wizard should consider all possible solutions to a problem, and not fall back on a singular one. A spell that can cover multiple situations is certainly worthy of note, too."

"Hah. With my method, you can hide in a swamp and not get all icky, and your clothes will stay dry. And you'll only just set the carpet on fire if you drop down and roll around.", the Gnome says with a chuckles. She nods to Seyardu, "See, your Sith friend here understands. Though, I assure you, right now, a whole bunch of snow out there is changing into mist without being water first. It's a necessary natural thing."

She holds up a finger. "Excuse me a moment."

The Gnome stands, takes a sip of her tea, and then walks over to where the Xian sits. "Hello.", she says politely to Karasu.

Randolf looks over to Seyardu with a nod. "Aye, that's exactly correct," he says. "That's why I never specialized. I'm a universalist wizard. I want tae embrace magic in all its complexities!" He wrinkles his nose again with a grunt as he weighs getting caught by whatever to taking a dip in bog mud. He shakes his head, tipping back his mug of mead to banish the distasteful notion. As Xasany takes her leave, he settles himself back, puffing quietly at his pipe for a moment. He looks over to Seyardu with a smile. "How've ye been, Sey? Been awhile since we was out in the field together."

"Well, it is just that notion why you should not dismiss the suggestions without thought." Seyardu chuckles. She glances to the gnome, and sighs. "As long as you know what you're getting in to." She states before they take off.

The cleric blinks, and approximates a smile back to the dwarf. "I would say I have been doing well, and it has been some time, yes? I have been out a few times since, but, for the most parts things seemed to have settled for the time being, which I am happy for. And I have been spending more time out in Mictlan of late."

Karasu blinks at the greeting, clearly not expecting it. Still he nods politely enough, and sips his drink from his cup. "Hello." It's not exactly the most welcoming greeting ever given, but the raven on his shoulder lets out a loud greeting of its own that's more so.

"So uhm.", the Gnome whispers to the Xian man. "Did you just agree to kill that wizard's rival? It's a ... typical ploy this late in the semester, when the pressure to have good grades and to be the best gets highest. You shouldn't carry out your plan. They uh have defenses against it."

Randolf nods his head. "Aye, I was out in Mictlan nae too long ago meself. Gatherin' some things fer the Guild." He grunts, wrinkling his nose. "A tree tried tae kill me. Cannae say as I've ever had -that- happen afore. But other'n bein' hot as an oven an' infested wi' murderous flora, it's some verra striking countryside."

This causes Seyardu to blink and shake her head. "Mictlan is not a dangerous place, it is just the countryside like any other. Unless you are referring to Am'shere? There are stranglervine trees there, which may cause trouble. And many creatures there that may try to eat or kill you."

She does finally order a drink for herself to not simply be sitting there, and give cover to listening to the conversation nearby. She wasn't sure if it was a guess or actual information on the gnome's part.

The question from the gnome gets another slow blink from Karasu. "That is a lot to assume." His voice is low and quiet. Even Wuya is quiet on his shoulder, staring at Xasany curiously. "Particularly of someone that you do not know." He takes a drink from his cup and pushes it aside.

"Perhaps it is, but I note that you didn't deny or confirm it.", she says softly, keep her voice hushed. She offers her hand up for shaking. "I'm Xasany. Nice to meet you." Her head cants slightly to one side. "He did seem pretty shady, though, you know?"

Randolf snaps his fingers. "Am'shere, aye that was the place. There were a settlement o' sith'makar there. They were... an interestin' bunch." He draws a pull from his pipe, puffing a couple artful smoke rings. The conversation with the gnome and Xian has him peering at them curiously. "Lassie, if he -did- hire an assassin, d'ye think he'd just up an' -tell- ye?" he says.

"I did not say anything to her, but it's not a bad assumption." Seyardu shrugs to Randolf. "Still, he would not be blatant enough to act like this if he was trying to kill you. And I do not think your drink is poisoned with anything other than the usual alcohol in it."

"What do you expect me to do but deny it?" Karasu asks somewhat gruffly, not taking Xasany's hand. Instead he rises to his feet, eyes flickering over Randolf and Seyardu. "You are both quite right, but you have nothing to fear from me. I will be going." With that he turns stiffly, heading for the door to the pub.

The Gnome rubs at her chin, "Hmm, you do have a point." She blinks at the man, "Don't forget to finish up your tea." Xasany stands then, and returns to her table, to sip at her own tea. She lifts a hand to wave as the man heads for the door. "No, I didn't say he'd hired an assassin, I was asking if someone tried to hire him to kill someone. Two entirely different things.", the Gnome says to Randolf.

Randolf boggles at Xasany, his pipe paused halfway to his mouth. Blink. Blink blink. "Och, that's even -less- likely that he'd tell ye then!" he finally says. The poor dwarf shakes his head. "Usually it's the tallfolk who're crackers," he grumbles with a gusty sigh. He goes to lift his pipe, then pauses again, looking at Seyardu. "Alcohol's nae -poison-!" he says, his beard bristling indignantly.

"You are correct, I misspoke. Alcohol is a toxin, and in large amounts, can cause such toxic effects." Seyardu corrects. "But ah, yes, sorry. He is a strange person, and I still do not know if he can be trusted. I have seen him dealing with slavers in the past. Why were you curious about what he was doing, Xasany? I doubt Randolf was under threat from them."

Karasu offers no further discourse as he heads out the door. Though Wuya makes a small meeping noise that makes Karasu pet the raven on the head in a comforting manner. The pair leave back into the fridged cold of the night outside the Fernwood Pub. The questions about them left unanswered for now.

-End