Dinner with Friends

Log Info

• Title: Dinner with Friends
• Emitter: Ashes
• Characters: Ashes, Elyanna, Gadget, Zofija
• Place: A07: Fernwood Pub
• Time: Friday, November 04, 2022, 8:56 PM
• Summary: Ashes is at the Fernwood Pub, pondering using her oracle cards and having dinner with her pets and familiar. Elyanna arrives, and unexpectedly Gadget enters as well. The three catch up on recent events, an odd vampire in the Soldier's Defense, Demon fires in the market, a haunted house. Ashes and Elyanna are still awaiting the trail to prove Delilah's innocence. Gadget's past is touched on lightly when Zofija arrives. The Mourner heals the Cavalier, and Ashes has to depart for evening prayers.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* 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-Arvek(?)     Female    A grim, Arvek-blooded woman in raven feathers.
Gadget       3'6"     38 Lb      Gnome             Female    Beautiful and unnatural.
Zofija       5'8"     225 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A well-dressed Arvek-Nar with a big hammer.         
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

Seated in the shadows under the stairs is an Arvek Nar with a skull face, grey skin, grey hair, grey clothes with white piping, and a blank expression. On the table in front of her is a small collection of her pets, a house centipede, a lizard, a doormouse and an owl.

She also has a plate of food, burritos on a bed of chips.

A deck of fortune cards sits nearby.

The doors swing in long enough to allow the arrival of the red hobkin, moving in that way of hers that leaves her cloak unparted from her figure. Her eyes scan the hall at large as she skirts the populous tables on her way toward the shadowed nook her friend-

Ah, there she is!

"Hello, Ashlee." Elyanna intones with her particular shade of warmth, "How are the burritos?"

She doesn't touch the fortune cards, yet. <goblin-talk>

"They're good. Carbuncle likes them." The ashen Arvec responds. Her white lizard is partially inside a burrito, covered in beans and cheese. Ashes is careful to cut a piece away from him. <goblin-talk>

The Mourner watches the red hob-kin sit and says, "You doing okay?" She runs her hand through her hair, "Now I'm sounding like Merek."

The Keeper's traverse continues with it's usual grace until she nears the Mourner's table, when her bare hand parts the raven feathers of her cloak to gently curl about the back of a chair, "May I join you?" she requests respectfully. <goblin-talk>

As Ashes notes the reptile's preferences, her steel eyes lock upon the twitching tortilla and Elyanna almost stifles a resultant snort.

Almost.

Gadget enters the pub with Mr. Jinglewidget making some monkey noises at her. 'Look,' she says at the monkey. 'I can feel your feelings. Trust me, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I used that for the day, though. Write it down, and we can discuss it.' She does hear some goblin-talk and looks around for the source. Upon seeing Ashes, she smiles and walks closer. "Oh, hello," she says. "I didn't realize you were here." <goblin-talk>

Ashes nods, first to Elyanna, and then a second time to Gadget. She raises her hand in a slight wave to Mr. Jinglewidget. "I am. They're letting us out of jail more often."

She looks at the empty spaces around the table, then back at the gnome. She decides to try her earlier phrase again, "You doing okay?"

The small owl on the table warbles eerilie, "WhooOooOooOoo?"

Elyanna dips her chin and begins to sidestep around the chair, though she hesitates and pivots to regard the new voice, and another animal companion.

Clearly, some miasmic humor in the Alexandrian air encourages keeping pets that can't....

Nevermind.

The red hobkin bows her head slightly with a soft, reserved, "Hello." before she turns back to settle into her claimed seat, angled some for a view of the entrance.

Gadget looks between the two and finally at the owl. She looks at the owl firmly, trying to understand it, which she could definitely do if it is one of those burrowing owls. Gnome magic is weird.

Mr. Jinglewidget jumps up onto a chair, then the table, then moves to where Ashes is sitting and gives her a hug. The monkey has a fondness for her after how much she worked on taking care of Gadget when the gnome needed it most.

Ashes embraces Mr. Jinglewidget, hugging him carefully and tight. Her embraces have improved, they are not the stiff efforts they once were. She even resists saying her typical consolation; it wouldn't be appropriate and it isn't as effective as she once imagined. "I missed you too."

The Mourner might even have missed Gadget, although her relationships with more complex beings are... more complex.

Releasing the capuchian, she tells him, "You can have some burritos if you want." Ashes faces Gadget, the skull marking dominates her face but she has some red roses added to her cheeks. "That's Dunny. He was a gift from a friend, Cor'lana."

Dunny obligingly hoots after being introduced, "WhoooOooooO?"

Elyanna allows the reunion to proceed without her intrusion, though she watches the exchange transpire with whatever curiousities (they are many) veiled behind her reserved poise.

A glance to the entrance, then, ere she catches the traverse of one of the waitstaff, when that same hand parts the folds of her cloak to flag the girl down.

Gadget shakes her head toward the owl. "Sorry, buddy. I'm not getting what you're saying." She looks at the burrito'd lizard. "You, too," she lets out. "You're both super cute, but my usual talking partners are mice and snakes and things that burrow." Mr. Jinglewidget makes some frustrated Monkey noises. "And monkeys once a day."

Chippen, the house centipede, briefly raises his head and waggles antennae at Gadget, then goes back to biting a bean. He's a little careful about being covered in cheese and sauce.

"I can talk to them with spells." Ashes says, taking a sip of water, "I don't often."

She watches as her pets work on the food. She's either abandoned the plate to them or doesn't mind sharing, likely the latter. Her head turns, she faces Gadget.

"We're still involved with a murder. There are assassins after us." She gestures at Elyanna, "it's been a while."

Her gaze drifts to the gnome's limbs, "Did you enhance those?" Elyanna gives another little nod as she's indicated by Ashes, then turns her attention to the server who arrives to attend them.

"Pheasant, if you have it, and a porter, if you please." she intones smoothly.

Back to the table, she looks the others over, then spares a look doorward.

Gadget beams as she notices the centipede. "Chippen!" she says. She reaches out and gently strokes its head with a thumb. Probably not super pleasant coming from the metallic surface, but the affection and carefulness is there. "How you doin', buddy?" She then turns to look at her other hand, which she clenches into a fist and relaxes a few times. "I don't remember," she says. "I mean, besides getting them."

She looks at Mr. Jinglewidget. "Did we upgrade my bits?" The monkey talks to her. "Uh huh," she says, nodding some. "Right," she continues, nodding again. "Mmhmm," she says as he continues monkey noises at her. She suddenly shakes her head no. "No, you know better than that. I can't understand a word you're saying. Write it down, ya goober."

The monkey looks grumpy and reaches out, plucking a pad of paper and a writing utensil from somewhere under Gadget's cloak, then starts scribbling out actually pretty good-looking calligraphy. However, that takes time, so Gadget patiently waits.

Chippen bumps against Gadget's finger, making a 'tink', following with a loop around her wrist before returning to the table. He doesn't seem to follow the conversation between the gnome and the monkey.

"I healed everyone in the Soldier's Defense." Ashes says, "Mostly. It went all right. Elyanna helped."

"We caught a vampire." She looks at Elyanna, "Right?"

There's a subtle hint of bemusement at being reminded of that affair, but Elyanna nods, "One quite far from home, practically debasing herself for nourishment."

She almost sounds embarassed by proxy.

The mechanical miscelenae at play with the gnome's movements catch her eye for a moment, but she makes no direct issue of it before the scribing simian piques an eyebrow.

"I see," Gadget says with a nod. "And here's me being almost killed by crawling hands." She looks at Chippen. "What a world, huh?"

Chippen bobs his head, then dips into the bean sauce. Ashes reaches out and runs a finger along his back. "There's not much else."

"The Temple of Vardama sent people to deal with a haunted house." Her voice is monotone, but it's clear the mourner wished she had been given that task. Her ghost handling methods are unorthodox, occasionally draining.

"A demon set fire to the streets outside." She avoided those festivities too. "Does Mr. Jinglewidget want something to eat?"

"There are more troubling ends." the red woman remarks matter of factly, sharing, perhaps genetically, the Mourner's gift for small talk.

On the upside, she doesn't go to the trouble of describing any.

Instead, "I had not heard about these." she notes, then, "When was this?"

Gadget looks at him, but he's nodding. It's pretty clear to understand. He also holds up the writing, which Gadget reads to herself. "Aside from tweaking and artifice stuff, this is apparently all stock." She flexes a fist, as much as her clicking arm can do so. There's a twang as she releases the tension in those clockwork springs and gears. "So, no, I guess."

"There's a stew, it has meat and vegetables, if he wants both." Ashlee suggests, glancing at Elyanna, "There's also pheasant. Or he can have some burrito."

"The Haunted house was four days ago, the demon fires, a week. Miri told me about them." She explains, taking another sip of water.

The Keeper nods, eyes narrowing a moment or two in thought, then, "I see..." she murmurs softly. <goblin-talk>

There is a glance to the curious interactions of the gnome and the monkey, when she blinks and straightens some in her seat, scanning along the ceiling.

Of course, that wasn't the sound of a knife clearing leather under her cloak.

It was the inn settling.

Elyanna's bewilderment and chastisement(?) erodes to a sort of uncertainty, and she tentatively speaks aloud, "We were saving an innocent, though the matter is unresolved, Mother. I'd expect you would be pleased... I will... have more information, soon." <Jotun>

Naturally ruddy of complexion, it's hard for most to tell if the halfbreed is blushes as she rises to her feet, flipping a gold coin onto the table, "I have been... remiss, and things have come due, best I... see to them, now. Well met, then, and good evening."

"I'll be at our lodgings in a while. Enjoy yourselves." <goblin-talk>

And, with that, the Keeper turns on her heel to power walk into the Alexandrian night.

"Stew's fine," Gadget says. Mr. Jinglewidget protests with angry monkey noises. Gadget reaches out and gently boops his nose, though her finger extends over his lips as well. "Write. It. Down," she calmly and slowly enunciates to him. He begins scribbling again, making very clear lines with his writing utensil.

Ashlee remembers to wave as Elyanna rises, then watch her exit. She turns next to consider her plate of food, attempting to discern a portion of it that has not seen traffic from her various friends and familiar. Finding a spot of burrito, she cuts it off with a fork.

It is part-way to her mouth when Dunny intercepts the morsel, delicately snapping it free. The Mourner lets her fork hang there for a moment, then returns to the plate. Her action is repeated; as is Dunny's.

She turns to watch the monkey writing, "What does he want, if not stew?"

Speaking of arvek-nar, vampires and blood loss-

A rather confused looking cavalier is at the door when Elyanna leaves, almost as ashen as the mourner was, but not looking naturally occurring. They blink once, before rubbing the back of their neck once as the enter, quickly finding where Ashlee was and breaking into a grin.

"Well I'll be, good to see you relaxing!" They exclaim. "And good to see you Ash, and whoever this is with you. Is that your familiar? Never seen a monkey writing before."

"WhooOoOoOooo?" Dunny emits his eerie hoot.

"That's Zofija. She's Screech's Owner." Ashes answers.

"WhoooOoOoOoo?" Dunny warbles again. He's staring at an empty fork, hovering in the air.

"This is Gadget, and Mr. JingleWidget. They're artificers. You just met them." Ashes introduces them again.

"WhooOooOoOoO?" Dunny calls once more.

"I'm Mourner Ashlee Ciaradh. You know that Dunny." The ashen arvec finally dips the fork down to bring up more food and silence her owl. "Do you need healing Zofija?"

"I received training to be a wizard," Gadget says. "Truth be told, though, I never really did get the hang of all that stuff." She looks when Mr. Jinglewidget holds up her notebook which he has written in. She looks slightly surprised. "Really?" Gadget asks. "Then why didn't you tell me?"

The monkey puts his hands on his hips and taps his foot on the table impatiently as his head lilts to the side, eyes half-lidded. That's a lot of sass for such a cute monkey. "Well, come on, then," his owner says, tapping her shoulder. As Mr. Jinglewidget clambers over to sit on Gadget's shoulders, she says, "Apparently, Mr. Jinglewidget wants a sandwich from that one place in Goblin Town we eat at sometimes. I appreciate the offer, but my monkey has spoken, and he's been good, lately, so I'll reward him."

"Yes, it's me, you've met me before, am I that forgettable?" The cavalier grunts with mock indignation before she shakes her head. "Ah, don't worry about it, you'll get it eventually. Should leave some food for Ash though, she needs to eat too."

"That so? My brother's training to be a wizard too." The arvek-nar chuckles. "Got a real knack for it. I know how it is, sometimes my griffon will feel like eating nothing but fresh goat when you've got a bunch of fish for them, but making sure they eat is important."

She waves off the offer. "Don't worry about it, Ash, nothing to be done with more healing, just need to work on the blood loss." She grunts, waving over a server to order some water. "I'll be right as rain in no time."

Dunny is silenced by the constant addition of food.

Ashes nod once, acknowledging the health update and dietary complications of a Griffon with, "Ok."

"There are a bunch of good goblin food trucks." She hasn't been to Goblintown in a while. "Are you heading there now?"

Gadget nods. "Yeah," she says. "Mr. Jinglewidget took care of me for a long time. I figure he's earned the right to dictate meals, sometimes."

"Yeah, lots of good food stalls out in goblintown if you know where to look, and where not to look. Some of them can get a bit inventive with their filler products, and it's never a good time." Zofija nods. "You were taken care of by your familiar? Must be a story there somehow, But I don't fault you if it's not one you want to share with someone you just met. Ash mentioned it already, but the name is Zofija, people call me Zofi usually."

Ashes looks between Zofija and Gadget, "He has. He's a good monkey."

The thought crosses her mind: should she warn Gadget that any 'monkey meat' she finds in the food stalls is not meat-for-monkeys? She decides it's not necessary, Zofija has already given a general warning, Gadget is smart. It will be fine.

"He was very brave and protective."

There are other details she could share, but decides, it's the gnome's tale to tell and she doesn't want to be rude. Instead, she reassures Gadget, "I'll be out more."

Gadget says, "I am going to head out. Thanks for the company Ashes." Glittery gnome and capuchin monkey depart.

"Well, those are both good qualities to have, I would say." The cavalier grins. Even if not directed at her, Zofi smiled a bit wider, and pat the mourner on one shoulder , once she was sure she wouldn't harm any animals in the process. "I'm glad to hear that, really. Getting out, relaxing, enjoying yourself, it's important. You work yourself really hard Ash, but you need to take care of yourself, too."

"I don't." Ashlee says, without specifying which, although all things could apply. She doesn't relax, enjoy herself, work really hard or take care of herself. Escaping the jail more often is new.

Not that she's locked in, but the 'protective' custody was turning into 'punishing' custody.

"Eat meat, for your blood." She suggests, then opens up her satchel. She brings out a small bag. "This is an edible iron powder."

Zofija says, "I suppose I'm not in the best space to be lecturing you about taking care of yourself, am I?" The Arvek-nar chuckles as she catches the waitress who returned with her water. "One steak and kidney pie please." She orders before they are off again. The cavalier takes a long drink, and sighs. "If you're offering, I won't turn it down, Ash. Not sure what you're saying you don't do, but if you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask. I care about seeing you do well, you know.""

"We need the Paladins and the Seer to catch the murderer." Ashes says, "then go to trial."

She thinks things over, pulls her Holy Symbol out of her satchel, sets it on the table. She rattles off some prayers in monotone, "Feiu of the Tears, restore Zofija's health. Feiu of the Tears, restore her physically. Feiu of the Tears, heal Zofija fully. Feiu of the Tears, Calm Zofija's emotions."

A coldness surrounds the Arvek Nar, a clammy, grave-like sensation fills her. As it drains away, afflictions and illnesses go as well, leaving only a strange numbness of muted emotions.

"That should fix everything."

The cavalier glances at the holy symbol for a moment, but before she can protest, the mourner is listing off all oh her prayers, and Zofija closes her eyes, letting out a sigh of relief as the color returns to her skin. "I'm not sure why the calming of emotions was necessary, but thank you, I'm a lot less tired Ash." They say with a smalk smile. "It's too bad I need severe blood loss to get nice gray skin like yours."

"Catching a murderer, then you'll be okay you mean? I hope so Ash, I want to see you happy."

"Merek uses the spell a lot." The Mourner explains, it is an odd endorsement. The man is often distant, seemingly in another world. The spell mutes most feelings, "It doesn't do much for me."

She's not the most expressive. Ashes glances at her plate, mostly devoured, none of it her doing, then looks back at Zofija. Her skull marking obscures expressions she might make, but those are rare incidents.

"Delilah was framed for Murder. She was convicted. We stopped the execution, but were wanted. We had to find the real killer, and the hostage she took."

"We rescued the hostage. When we have the assassin, we can get Delilah free. She's in jail for real." The Mourner shrugs a little, "We weren't much. Elyanna, Me, and her sister. We're all she had. Honest Monsters."

"The spell has it's place Ash, especially when dealing with the sick and injured, and their tensions are running high. But for me, I guess I'm just happy to see you." The cavalier grunts, smiling to the mourner slightly again. "Maybe you need to practice smiling, or find some things to bring you joy. Then it might do more."

The smile vanishes as Ashes continues. At least the spell suppressed any anger she had at the story. "Sounds like a lot happened that shouldn't have, to reach that point. If there's anything that I can do to help with your friend, I'll do what I can." Zofija nods slowly before her food arrives. She sniffs once, and cuts it in half, spooning it onto the mourner's plate. "Eat, you're still thin, Ash. Is that why you called yourself a monster? Ely too? I still don't see it at all."

"No. It's something else." Ashlee says. She doesn't want to explain simple prejudices and complex social constructs, and nature, and in Elyanna's case, a large chunk of nurture. The changing legal status of various humanoids in Alexandria is also not a topic she wants to talk about, despite knowing some things.

"You can come to the trial." The Mourner suggests. It could help, whenever it will be. She doesn't smile but there is a hint of emotion in her voice, "Or the second escape."

She summarizes her feelings, "I thought of moving back to Blar," and concludes with a shrug, "it's dark everywhere."

"Well, whatever the something else is, I hope you and Ely can move past it. Neither of you are monsters, and I want you both to see that, as your friend." Zofija grunts, spearing some pastry on a fork and taking a large bite. "Of course I'd come support you and Ely at a trial, if it would help. Even if just a show of force." Zofi nods. "And if it's a show of force, that too. I don't want to see you or your friends wrongly imprisoned."

The simple statement made the cavalier blink, and tilt her head. "Back to Blar? You sure?" She asks. "It's your choice at the end of the day, but, seems a lot of bad was there for you, Ash."

"It's bad everywhere." Ashlee says, "It's more hidden here."

She pokes at her plate, "I have to go to Vespers." It's not clear if she's talking to her pets or Zofija, although each of her menagerie is getting a tap with the back of her fork. She slides her fortune telling cards into her satchel and holds it open for the others to climb in.

Minnie and Carbuncle do, with Dunny flying to her shoulder and Chippen surrounding her neck. Ashlee faces Zofija, "I have to go."

"I'll see you later."

"True but, at least dunno. Maybe I'm just letting my own experiences cloud my thoughts. The arvek-nar grunts. "Just where you'd like to be, that's important."

"Vespers? Never heard of it." Zofija notes, glancing to all animals. "Was good to see you for a bit, out again." The cavalier pats Ashlee on her owl free shoulder, and nods. "See you later Ash, I'll look forward to it. And remember to take care of yourself, alright?"

"It's evening prayers," The Mourner says, as she stands and starts for the door. She nods once, "I will," and slips into the night.

Dramatis Personae

Ashes, A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face.
She has a skull for a face.

On second glance it is a tattoo, white on her warm grey skin. Her nose is a coal black patch while her hair is a lighter, cooler grey. The hair has wavy, thick strands that clump together. Piercings and other decorations enhance her markings, creating a sugar skull, a festive death. Ashlee Ciaradh is not festive. She is a quiet, somber Arvec Nar. A little creepy. It's the way the hollows around her eyes are emphasized, her stare. The heavy jaw with all the teeth tattoos.

There's a chill around her, one unlike that caused by cold weather. A quietness of the tomb. Her clothes are dark, a short half-jacket over a shirt with dark slacks. She has a very battered bag slung over her shoulder, one that seems older than she is.

Elyanna, A grim, Arvek-blooded woman in raven feathers.
Tall, lean and dark, she stands most of six feet, skin a rich, cinnabar tone with a splash of carmine freckles across her cheeks and bridge of her nose. Her face is broad beneath her thick brows and widows' peak, with well defined cheekbones and a firm jaw. Her demeanor is solemn around harrowed steel eyes, though in the odd case of a smile, her teeth are those of a predator. Her hair is raven black, bangs parted by a burnished steel band to frame her face, and the rest allowed to flow to her beltline behind her. Should she speak, she does so in a contralto voice, her accent unmistakably that of Bludgun.

An ankle length cloak of raven feathers, almost matching her hair but for texture, with a fringed leather mantlet layered over that shrouds a chain shirt. The chain is polished to a almost mirror shine with a black suit of cloth, reinforced at the joints with matte leather, under. At her waist, a rectangular, fluted buckler hangs from a clasp on her crimson belt over her left hip, the coils of a whip braided of various hues of hair, to the silver tresses of it's popper, rides on her right on the scabbard of a Blarite falchion, while a punching dagger that curls like a fang is tucked at her back. Polished black leather and blued steel chased in copper make up the gauntlet that sheaths her right forearm, matched by reinforced boots that fold back at the knee. The closest she gets to accessories is the afformentioned steal headband, crafted to resemble a braided leather band with a central 'strand' of polished bronze interlaced with the rest.

Gadget, Beautiful and unnatural.
It's hard to mistake the gnomish beauty for anything else. Her beautifully kept, loose curls of golden hair frame her youthful, feminine features. Most of her face is flawless, without blemish or even a freckle. She has a cute, button nose and full, pouty lips. The exception to the flawless beauty lies in her eyes. Her eyes are each a solid piece of pure moonstone. Any light shining into them give them a ghostly, blue color intermixed with the paleness.

Below the woman's face is a slender, feminine neck that flows gracefully toward the velvet of her dress. Wine-red velvet hugs her busty chest, keeping her quite modestly covered before disappearing under shining steel at her shoulders and brown leather of a laced corset beneath her underbust. The red velvet of the woman's dress flows out from under her corset and drapes over her legs to just above her ankles.

Gadget's limbs appear to be normal arms and legs sleeved in plate armor. When one listens closely, the sound of gears whirring and clicking can be heard whenever they move. The reflective, steel plates are shined to a mirror finish and wrapped with an aged brass filligree studded in certain locations with decorative moonstone.

There is an ever-present capuchin monkey somewhere nearby.