The Waywalkers visit the Tarrace

Log Info

• Title: The Waywalkers visit the Tarrace
• Emitter: Faranmidahn
• Characters: Faranmidahn, Irshya, Ashes, Elleandra
• Place: A03: The TarRace
• Time: Thursday, December 03, 2020, 8:38 PM
• Summary: Faranmidahn Waywalker has taken her mother, Professor Serrendine Waywalker, to dine at the Tarrace. Once seated they meet Irshya, one of the proprietors. Meanwhile, Mourner Ciaradh enters and finds a nice isolated table to lurk at, and feed her pets. She eavesdrops on everyone, and ends up the subject of conversation as they wonder how she has so many familiars. Irshya meets Zephyr, Faran's famililar, and likes her greatly. Elleandra arrives, giddy with something, and recognizes Ash and joins her. Ash isn't comfortable with company and soon has more. She ends up explaining the origins of all her familliars. Chippen, she's had for ages, Carbuncle is a familiar but not hers, she's watching him, and the mouse, Minnie isn't a familiar at all but was acquired on an adventurer. Elleandra asks for a fortune and gets a bad card. Serrendine is convinced all of her daughter's friends are insane, and then Kamaria arrives. Things get even stranger as the wine starts to flow.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* 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  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Faranmidahn  3'3"     35 Lb      Halfling          Female    Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG spider
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
Elleandra    5'4"     108 Lb     Wild Elf          Female    Blue-haired, green-eyes, Sylvanori
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The evening finds two Lucht women having dinner at one of the tables near the stage. One of pronounced ivory fluffiness, wrapped in a fine silk dress of black and purple, spiderwebbed cloak is seated with a slightly smaller, rather older woman of similar facial structure and earthier hues, though her mousey grey hair is peppering in places, and she lacks the leg shag of the albino. A familiar white spider most of the size of a human's fist, wanders about the ladies' plates and other table adornments with some evident facination while the two dine with a sort of subdued humor to their company.

The blue-hued Gobbo steps out of the bathhouse entrance, and announces her presence with a great yawn, followed by a stretch. Her sea-green robes are freshly cleaned and pressed. As she walks towards the bar, wet footprints follow along behind her. Pulling herself up onto a barstool, she waves to the bartender, and ask for warmed cider.

An ominous shadow appears at the door. Oh wait, it's Ash, looking loomy and gloomy and quietly staring around the Tarrace, seeking the most out of the way spot. Her gaze lingers on the two lucht women, as if confused. Perhaps she recognizes them, perhaps she's surprised they aren't goblins, or perhaps she's worried a stray tray might come out of nowhere and whack them on their heads, but that might only be a concern if they're related to the ones in the kitchen.

She does recognize Irshya, easily spotted by following the wet footprints, and brushes her hand over her satchel. Her crossbow is ready, if more cats need to be shot at.

Everyone else seems to be strangers, and perhaps not adventurers. Social hazards thus established, the ashen Arvec attempts to creep to a nice table in the corner.

Faranmidahn shakes her head slightly at something the elder had said, "... No, Mother, it isn't like that, I just think-"

"No, you're feeling, an altogether different thing." the older Lucht chides, though her eyes are drawn by the little blue goblin that passes on toward the bar.

Faran, as much as noting her senior's change of focus, could have been clued in by the white fuzzy spider that scurries out to the endge of the table. A smile touches her lips, "That's Irshya, Mother. She is one of the owners of this place."

The arrival of the grim one also seems to draw the eye, a gift of Zephyr's extra awareness, perhaps, and the pale spider knight arches an eyebrow.

The Gobbo is content to sip at her cider, while Ashes will find a server arriving at her quiet table a short time after she's settled in. "Anything from the kitchen today?", the silver-haired Gnome asks. "Our special is hydra steak. It's soaked for six weeks in a particular wine and then grilled slowly for a half day. Guaranteed to melt in your mouth!" She grins brightly. "We've also a fresh batch of mulled wine in from the Vast."

Faran, meanwhile, will find Irshya peering at her from her perch at the bar. The Gobbo hops down and pads her way over, softly. "Hello. Faranmidahn, yes?", the Gobbo wonders.

"Does the steak keep growing back if you don't eat it fast enough?" Ashes asks, having taken a seat and looking up at the server. Her expression is serious, her eyes, also seem serious. The question is asked in monotone, so there are little cues whether it is meant to be a joke.

"One glass of the mulled." Ash requests, 'one' emphasized a little. Her large goblinoid ears flick, stirring a white lizard that hangs from one. She's eavesdropping on the two lucht and the goblin, perhaps the whole place. This is definitely how she enjoys conversing, listening to other people doing it.

"I'll take the hydra steak." If it does regrow as she eats, perhaps her pets can help.

Faranmidahn turns her attention back toward Irshya and lifts her hand to wave as the goblin makes her way over. Once they've been joined, she smiles and nods, "Hello, miss Irshya! THat's right, but we're friends, so Faran is fine!" There is a quick glance to her companion, then, "Irshya, this is my mother, Serrendine."

The elder lucht looks to the Goblin behind a certain scholarly reserve and bows her head, "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Irshya. It's a grand place you have, here."

The little white spider ventures closer to the hostess and utters a soft, voiceless rumble, "Zephyr says hi!" the albino adds, while the grey lady in the corner ventures into cryptocuisine.

"No, the steak doesn't grow back.", the silver-haired Gnome says, "That's why it's stewed in a special wine, both to take out the pungent and bitter taste." She nods then. "The steak will be a few minutes, and your wine will be here momentarily." She bounces away towards the bar.

"Irshya didn't want to assume. Faran is easier to say." She smiles shyly at the older Lucht. "Serrendine. Irshya pleased to meet you!", the Gobbo says cheerfully, offering up her hand for shaking. The Gobbo squeaks suddenly, staring at the spider. "Sp.sp.spider.", she says... "Faran has a pet spider?" She leans in closer to stare. "Did it just talk?"

Ashlee nods to the server, then commences her quiet waiting. She reaches into her satchel and takes out a deck of cards. She puts them on the table in front of her. Usually, she would use them to build a metaphysical wall in front of her, one defined by portents of the future and past. For the moment however, she simply stares at the deck as if it's a waiting beast. Safer perhaps, to play with her pets.

She reaches under her shirt, then brings out a mouse and sets her down. It squeaks and runs around in front of her, encircled by her arms. It doesn't seem to be escaping, but she's also not giving it any opportunity. The lizard continues to try and eat her, ear first.

Chippen, her familiar, has noticed Zephyr and is watching the white puffy spider.

Faranmidahn beams the sort of smile that closes the eyes, "She's my friend!" She throttles back her open delight and explains, "She's my familiar, we bonded during a trip to the world of the fae a while back. Zephyr... can talk, but so far I'm the only one who seems to actually understand what she's saying."

As that's going on, one of Zephyr's forelegs lifts to wave to the goblin.

Serrendine chimes in about this point, "She also seems to be rather intelligent, particularly for a spider, and is rather well mannered, miss Irshya. I've only ever seen her bite rodents. Or very small birds." Just in time for a rodent to appear on the distant Mourner's table, and Zephyr pivots where she stands to stare back that way.

"Irshya isn't sure. She doesn't like creepy crawlies." The Gobbo looks closer still at the spider, even as it turns to look towards the other table. "She is large for a spider, yes? A familiar?" The Gobbo rubs at her cheek. "Its amazing that she can be such. A fae spider?" Irshya slowly extends a finger towards the abdomen of the spider.

Meanwhile, a mug of mulled wine appears upon Ashes' table, the Gnome wandering off so that the Arvek can mull her fortune.

Ash's mouse continue to run around and get deflected back into the centre. She looks around for a piece of bread, settling on bringing a stale crust from her satchel and giving that to the mouse to work on.

She's heard that familiars can talk, so far Chippen hasn't, although she's used a few spells to communicate now and then. The centipede remains embedded in her hair, peering at Zephyr. Ash takes a sip of the wine, slowly savouring it and continuing to peer and stare around the Tarrace.

Faran watches the interaction with a little concern. No one understands them like she does! Sigh. She notes the finger on aproach and suggests, "You want to stroke from front toward her back, otherwise you might hurt her." With the sudden impulses from her familiar, she looks toward that table and, "Wow, she has a lot of.... why is that lizard hanging from her ear?"

The Gobbo is not likely to stroke the spider, but she is interested in a touch. A gentle thing. "She's real.", Irshya says softly. She peers over at Ashes, "If Irshya recall, that is Ashes' familiar." She grins at the two Lucht. "Have you enjoyed dinner here?", she wonders of the two.

Meanwhile, the Gnome returns once more to Ashes' table. She carefully sets the plate down on the table, out of the way of both the mouse and tarot fortune. The steak is accompanied by mix of vegetables, and baked potatoes that are loaded with extras.

The ashen arvec eagerly takes up a knife and fork. First a tiny piece is cut and put beside the mouse, who ignores it. She gets a tiny piece of vegetables and a potatoe, which seem more to her tastes.

Chippen, gets meat. Ash takes him from her hair, sets him on the deck of tarot cards and puts the meat nearby. He immediately steps off, and starts eating. The white lizard also, is given a tiny piece of hydra. It can dream of being bigger and more dangerous as it consumes a larger, distant cousin.

Finally, Ash cuts a chunk for herself, takes a bite of it, and slowly chews.

"Cryosanthia was right, miss Irshya, your chefs are very good." Serrendine remarks, "Thank you." There's a momentary consideration of the goblin and her interactions with the spider, who starts with that little rumble once more at the light touch before pivoting to look at Irshya.

Faran hmmm's thoughtfully and, "I suppose we all have our own quirky relationships with our familiars." she notes, but isn't going to gawk at the curious woman while she's trying to eat. Still, it might be worth inquiring after how she has so many familiars, she could always use more spider friends.

The Gobbo looks very pleased with the praise for her establishment, "Aw, I shall have to give Cryosanthia extra hugs for the good word." Irshya blinks at the Zephyr then, and wiggles her finger in front of the wee beastie. "Irshya doesn't have any familiars. Maybe she can find one some day."

Ash has finished chewing her piece, cuts herself some of the vegetables this time. She looks around at her familiars, ensuring they're still topped up. Regular feedings seem to help. Mouthful taken, she chews.

Absently, she reaches for a fortune card, is about to turn it over but then decides against it and sets it back on the stack. Another sip of wine is taken, and she stares around at the other patrons of the Tarrace.

Whatever the time of day, Elly is thirsty. Really, really thirsty. Not like /that/ kind of thirst. She wants a drink. She enters, looking a bit dishevelled and wearing a rather distracted smile. And no, she is showing no signs of enchantment.

She sidles up to the bar and leans on it, looking around with a bemused expression. If not for her remarkably steady walk one might think she's already had a few drinks. When someone calls her back to reality by asking what she's drinking, she turns back to them.

"Sorry about that. I'm not having anything. I mean not yet, at least." She laughs softly, "Red wine. Something dry. Really dry. Like a desert. And complex."

That being settled, the druid looks back over the place. It occurs to her she's never really paid quite enough attention to how nice it is here. Oh, and hey, is that Faran over there? Elleandra waves at her. Perhaps with a bit too much excitement. She's not usually this bubbly.

Faranmidahn wishes Irshya well as she gets called off to handle business behind the scenes as it were, and so, the two Lucht women are left with the fluffy white spider between them, and a return to their previously understated humor. The movement in her peripheral, and Zephyr's esoteric augmentation of her awareness draws rose eyes toward the wave and she quickly lifts a hand to wave, herself, "Hi!"

Ashlee remembers the wild elf and delivering a message from her mother to her. She recalls a few other things, that might not have left the opinion of her all that positive. She's learning! Though her Vardama pamphlet definitely helps. She thinks carefully, remembering some of its advice: As a servant of the Grey Lady, most people find you unsettling and you should not join conversations without being invited, as they'll assume you have bad news about a relative.

She thinks this over. It seems to be true. So the ashen Arvec instead cuts more meat and veggies for her menagerie, takes another sip of mulled wine, and then cuts a piece of steak for herself. She starts into her regimented chewing.

She continues to listen to conversations she's not a part of, because that's interesting. It's the participating she doesn't enjoy. Thank Vardama her pamphlet said not to! Commandments you want to obey are the easiest to follow.

A wave back! A wave is an invitation. Elly picks up her wine, pays up, and heads right on over to join them! She'll sit down and then scoot over close to Ash. "Hi!" she says brightly to the Arvek. Which is completely unnecessary, but somehow seems polite. No doubt Ashes is delighted to have someone to talk to!

For a moment, Elleandra turns her rather intense level of attention to Faranmidahn. "How have you been? I trust all is going well!" The druid looks down, seemingly surprised by the wine in her hand. Oh yes. She ordered it. Dry. Right. She takes a drink. It's good. It's dry. Why did she order dry when she wanted something sweet?

"So we've met, but I don't know if I made the best of impressions. I'm Elleandra! You can just call me Elly. Most people do. I mean those who aren't don't just call me chef or cook girl or something like that." Does she have to lean in so close when she's talking? Probably not. Something's got her extra friendly and excited, though.

A wave back! A wave is an invitation. Elly picks up her wine, pays up, and heads right on over to join! But wait, there's someone else she recognizes! It would be rude not to say hello to Ashes. And so Elly will sit down nearby and then scoot over close to Ash. "Hi!" she says brightly to the Arvek. Which is almost unnecessary, but somehow seems polite. No doubt Ashes is delighted to have someone to talk to! Someone sitting really close!

For a moment, Elleandra turns her rather intense level of attention to Faranmidahn. "How have you been? I trust all is going well!" The druid looks down, seemingly surprised by the wine in her hand. Oh yes. She ordered it. Dry. Right. She takes a drink. It's good. It's dry. Why did she order dry when she wanted something sweet?

"So we've met, but I don't know if I made the best of impressions. I'm Elleandra! You can just call me Elly. Most people do. I mean those who aren't don't just call me chef or cook girl or something like that." Does she have to lean in so close when she's talking? Probably not. Something's got her extra friendly and excited, though.

Faranmidahn blinks at the response she gets from Elly, though, as she has settled in with the grim lady, she isn't, at first, certain what to do. She looks to her companion and, "She's another friend of Cryo and I, Mother. She's usually a little less energetic, but I should go see to her a moment. Zephyr, be a good girl and stay with her ok?"

Wether the older lucht is in favor of this or not, the albino knight makes her way over to visit her friend and her friend's friend, and her friend's friend's friends! Very friendly, "Hello!" she begins with a smile to the table as she draws near.

Flli-i-i-ip! There's an eruption of tarot cards as touching them and having Elly swoop in turns into a startled reaction. They go everywhere, mostly on the table, some in her food, a bunch on the floor.

Her mouse makes a break for it, and Ashes moves to intercept. Chippen, senses mistress distress and helps, by running up her arm to hug her face. If she wasn't creepy enough with her skull markings, she has a very large centipede across her mouth and nose, and possibly kissing an eye. Carbuncle, her white lizard, is unmoved. He continues to day-dream of being a hydra as he eats one.

Awkwardly, Ashes says, "Hi." Still monotone. Like magnets repelling, she leans way as Elly leans in. Then there's more people. Oh no! Little people, but still. Oh no!

Well that went so well! Elleandra can see all sorts of positive results from this cconversation. There's the excited little mouse, an affectionate centipede, and.. well, the lizard seems unphased. Elly has an affinity for reptiles. She knows several people with scales, after all!

"Faran! So nice of you to join us." Elleandra stands up. Wow, weird how the whole room kinda swung funny when she did that! Rather fun, though. The wine wasn't spilled, thankfully.

"You are here just in time to meet my good friend," she begins loudly, making a grand gesture towards Ashes. The druid pauses then, very awkwardly, finally laughing a bit and 'whispering' loudly to Ashes, "Sorry, what's your name again?"

Faranmidahn is rather quick to react as the chaos is unleashed on the grey lady's table, and gives a startled, "Whoop!" as things kick off. With little squeaky making a break, she scurries on after to pick the tiny mammal up, stroking her with her thumbs, "Sshhhh-shh-shhh, it's ok, sweetie, it's ok, now..... easy..." she croons in gentle tones. Hardly the most dignified activity for a Knight, but, she's helping, or... well, trying. Minnie is really squirming and trying to get back on course, "Eee... ow! Yeah, ow.. she isn't happy...."

"It's Mourner Ashee Ciaradh. I prefer Ash." Ashlee says, her monotone words a little obstructed by centipede feet. The ashen Arvec holds out her hand, "Thanks, I'll put her back home."

While she waits for Minnie, Ash panics. Conversation is happening! She recalls her pamphlet said she should tell people something relateable about herself when she's introduced, so she'll seem more human. Or relateable, since she isn't human. What are humans interested in? Oh! Sabina was quite curious about her romantic life for some reason. She was involved with someone famous. Perhaps that is a good topic to share.

"I used to date Mer..." No! No! No! Abort! As the words are leaving her mouth, she realizes it's the absolute worst thing she could say. She doesn't want to talk about him, her relationship, what happened. Anxiously, she graps for something else. Ah yes, the old Vardamite standbye.

"We're all going to die."

"She's Ash!" See, she's Elly's friend. "And this is Faran!" She gestures energetically again. She's got way too much energy.

"And yeah, I guess we will. You know. Someday! Wow. That's.. that's a lot to think about." She settles back in the chair. Well, it takes a second try. The thing apparently moved back! When she got up! Tricky. So she does nearly fall, and manages to flip a card that was on the edge of the table up into the air and into her wine. Which she doesn't spill. It's an art.

"So you used to date Mer, huh? I think I know someone named Mer.. Mer.." Elly narrows her eyes. It's there. She knows it. "Merlie! Seemed nice. I think." Maybe. She notices, then, when she goes to take a drink, that there is a card there. She draws it out, showing it to Ash, "Oohhhh, what's this one mean?" A blink and she points out, "You know, there's a bug on your face. Is that a new fashion?"

Faranmidahn manages to get the little squeaker settled by the time she manages to offer her up to the taller woman, "Here you go, sweetie, back to your friend...!" she croons. There is a little smile there, and it fades a little on the grim woman's notes. She probably doesn't mean who the Lucht thinks she means, and Faran tries to steer her thoughts away from that hornet's nest for now. The reminder of mortality isn't much help, but she only acknowledges that with a wan little nod.

Still, there were introductions, and she straightens with a smile, "It's nice to meet you, Mourner, Ashlee, I am Sir Faranmidahn Waywalker, Knight of the Purple Rose." She gives a little dipped curtsey, then scoots around the table to give, "Elly!" a hug, "We've missed you! Have you been well, how is Miss Kameria? Have you seen Cryo?"

"That's... the Knight of Swords." Ashlee says, glancing in Faranmidahn's direction before staring back at Elleandra, "It's reversed, so it doesn't have a good meaning."

The ashen Arvec seems reluctant to share further, so she answers the other question, "He's Chippen, my familiar. I'm not fashionable."

Her little squeaker is gratefully retrieved and slipped into her loose shirt. This is followed by a slight startle, perhaps the mouse bit her, or went somewhere she shouldn't. Ashlee doesn't move afterwards though, so that seems resolved. In monotone she says, "Thanks."

For one reason or another, she adds, "The cards keep coming up bad. They used to be sarcastic. That stopped."

"Well, maybe you should just change the deck, then," suggests Elly. "You know, have only the good cards. Everyone wins." This logic works for her. "Naughty knight card can go away. Giving me a bad prediction after drinking my wine. Ingrateful." She's got half a mind to show that card what-for! But only half a mind, and it's distracted!

She hugs Faran, "It's great to see you, and I saw Cryo.. it's probably been way too long. I hope everyone is doing well. I'm doing well." Perhaps too well.

"Chippen seems very nice, you know. Most centipede's aren't so friendly with people. He must care for your very much!" She makes a little wave in the centipede's direction. "I think I have.. something.." She digs around in her pack, then, and finally produces food. Which is set on the table. For chippen, probably. It has the scent of meat and subtle spices. Probably venison.

Faranmidahn smiles freely as the hug is met and shesighs happily, "I'm doing alright." not for lack of effort on some entity's part, "Oh, ahh..." She turns, releasing her hug to wave back to her dining companion, then beckon them over.

She turns back to the Mourner, then, "He's neat! All those little legs must tickle." she notes, "Zephyr likes to crawl on me, too." She isn't sure she's qualified to touch the card thing, so, "And who's this hanging off your ear?" she wonders, instead.

"He's very friendly." Ashlee confirms. She's relaxed somewhat, which Chippen can tell, so he ventures down her arm to the offered venison. How centipedes eat is a complex and mildly disturbing procedure, so best not observed. "They do tickle."

"This is Carbuncle. I'm watching him for another." Ashlee explains, a little. So the lizard belongs to someone else. She blinks once, a name sounds familiar. "Cryo. Is that the big white lizard I've seen around?"

Oh, and there was something else too, "the cards come out good and bad, depending which way up. They've been always bad for a few months." Ash manages to look directly and consistently at Elly as she says this, and almost doesn't stare.

Hey, someone is coming over! Elly waves happily. She doesn't fall off the chair, though it's a near thing. The bloody piece of furniture nearly bucked her off!

"I don't have any animals," Elleandra points out. "Odd. I'm a druid. Most of us have something like that, but I can you know, become one!" She looks like she's concentrating. Nothing happens. Which is probably for the best.

"Well, you'll have to take my word for it! It's so fun. You know, being like.. a little animal running around." She nods. "So can these animals talk to you? Like magic?" Since Ashlee is almost not staring, Elly almost not stares back. She keeps staring until she breaks into laughter.

The older lucht woman seems less enthused about this, but, she does gently gather up the white coconut spider and approach the gathered women, her thumb gently smooths the fuzzy arachnids sprinkles on the way over. Once alongside, she worldlessly passes Zephyr to the taller, younger woman, who brings her up to her lips for a light kiss before depositing her on her shoulder.

"Elleandra, Mourner Ashlee, may I present Professor Serrendine Waywalker, my mother." The albino begins, then, in turn, with indicative gestures, "Mother, this is my good friend Elleandra, and Mourner Ashlee Ciaradh, a new one I hope. With her are Carbuncle, who she's pet sitting with her ear, and Chippen, who's a familiar." She turns her chin with a smile to the arachnid and, "Ladies, this is my dear, very patient friend, Zephyr."

Serrendine, for her part, still seems reserved, but not distresed or peeved, and gives a polite curtsey with her, "Greetings, it's nice to meet you, both." She regards the menagerie with some curiosity, but takes the explaination at face value.

"Hello," Ashlee says simply, inclining her head towards Serrendine, returning her attention to Elleandra and slipping back into her comfortable stare. "I use Detect Thoughts to hear what they're thinking, and another spell to talk with them."

Animal conversations are a lot easier. Ash has almost mastered them. "It's magic. It sounds fun."

Chippen, seems unsure for the moment. Zephyr has too many eyes, and not enough legs. Although she has more than Carbuncle, which elevates her potential status some. The centipede picks up the venison and vanishes into Ash's sleeve to lurk somewhere beneath her clothes on her.

Carbuncle, continues to chomp on Ash's ear, encouraged by his recent hydra consumption. The hobgoblin will be devoured soon.

"A snake would be fun." Ashlee suggests, though whether that's to be or to have is unclear. "Zephyr looks pretty."

Elleandra falls silent. For enough time to drink more wine. Which probably really isn't necessary. Honestly it hasn't been for some time. But it is amazing! If only she could taste it.

She fixes her eyes on the professor. Oh dear. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor Serr.." Thankfully she doesn't try to put together a name at this point. "Professor, that is. It's a pleasure. Yes. Your daughter is a very good friend. Always so kind and patient. You should be proud." A pause of perhaps two seconds.

"So what are your a professor of?" Elly asks suddenly, as if there was any chance at all she'll remember this in five minutes. Elly shoots a winning grin at Faranmidahn. Everything is going well!

Elleandra says, "Professerrrrrserrrrrr.. *giggles* "Professorser!" Good impressions are important.

Faranmidahn blinks, "Oooh, that sounds neat! I... don't have any spells like that, though I've used scrolls that let you share memories!" she replies, "After a while, Zephyr seemed to be getting smarter and smarter, then... a couple of weeks ago, I was finally able to understand her when she spoke. I imagine Chippen will do the same soon. Have you been friends long?"

Cephyr, for her part, considers the other familiars with all those cute little eyes, wondering how Chippen keeps track of all of those legs. He has to eat a lot to keep those puppies fueled! The lizard, however, doesn't seem to be eating enough. Hmmm.

Serrendine, for her part, arches an eyebrow and dubiously scrutinizes the elf's face for a few moments as she begins to doubt her condition, "I am the foremost living expert on the subject of the Everstorm." she answers, this with some pride, and perhaps some light of obsession in her eye.

"Yes. Since before Ghost School." Ashlee says in monotone, as if this name is normal. She rubs at a spot on her clothes, which might be above Chippen. "I hope that happens. He likes the same things I do."

Graves and frightening others, most likely.

Ash unclips Carbuncle and sets him down beside another piece of hydra-steak. This gets the lizard eating more effectively. Ash takes another bite, another sip, turns her skull-face to stare at Serrendine now. "I'm honoured to meet you."

She's not being sarcastic, but the monotone delivery makes it seem a little strange.

To Elly that sounds really impressive. Everstorm. Everstorm. Everstorm! EverstooOOOOooOOOooorm! She's not saying it aloud, she's just singing it in her head. Which means she's silent looking at Faran's mother. Saying nothing.

Finally, after a really weird amount of time, Elleandra is back. "What is Everstorm?" she asks suddenly. To her, no time has passed due to the whole self-talk.

It's about this time that the front door opens. And Kamaria walks in. When the door closes behind her, she cringes. Damn that's loud. She pauses to survey the scene, clearly looking for something. Or, well, someone. And there she is!

The half-sil smiles ruefully and walks across the place to Elleandra's spot. Kamaria sounds normal, if a bit quiet, "Hello everyone! Thank you for collecting my dear one, who is, alas.. in a delicate state." Judging by appearances, the delicate state is just this side of passing out on the table.

Faranmidahn blinks at that. 'Ghost School'? Maybe it's what Mourners call it? "I'm sure it will!" she assures the woman, then reaches up to gently stroke Zephyr's shell with her fingertip. This produces what almost sounds like a purr.

Serrendine, for her part, seems somewhat troubled by the slower turnaround she's seeing before her. Perhaps the large bodies need to divert too much to operating all that mass, so they process things a little more slowly, but, "It's-!"

And then Kamaria happens, derailing the woman's thought, though Faran brightens and moves out to hug her, "Hi! How are you, I've missed you! Oh, maybe we should all settle in and maybe have dessert together, and we can all get to know each other!"

Ashes shrinks back, another new person. She stares at Kamaria. She's going to run out of 'hellos' for today. "Hello."

She can at least answer the Everstorm question. "It's when gods happen to naughty cities." Ash is quite proud of that summary, until she realizes she's completely interferred with a proper, academic, serious explanation. She's offended Professor Serrendine. 'Without meaning to' is a given, Ash does a lot of things that have unintended consequences.

She takes a very long sip of her wine, almost draining the glass. Yes, that's the solution. Drink some more. She cuts herself another piece of steak, chews it slowly, staring owlishly at everyone. This is followed by another sip.

Fade to Wine.

Inspirational Videos

Zephyr high fives - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEMPLrWh35g
Ashes on a horse - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VolDOb4FoNw