Pincered Gelhorn
Log Info
- Title: Pincered Gelhorn
- Emitter: Slixvah
- Place: Northern Tornmwar Banks
- Northern Tornmawr Banks, Noon
The rain of yesterday has given way to a hazy and hot noon, large white clouds drifting through the sky. Its serene, perhaps, in a way. At least the weather's heat has slowly been waning, its biting edge dull. On the banks today, fishmongers sell their catches up stream for easy coin to nearby houses and restaurants, while others soak up the sun either in the river or on blankets.
An egalrin woman drifts down from above, large, rainbow ribboned wings giving a gentle glide to the shade provided from the bridge. She stumbles a bit, visage tired, as she catches herself on the statues off to the side. A glance up, and Slix quietly chuckles, ironically Althean and Daeusite holy symbols held in her grasp. "Thanks fo' th' help," she mutters to them before turning and leaning against the gods. Only to slowly slide down and plant herself on the ground, head lulled back and body unwound to try and gain semblance of relaxation.
Bird's on break, it seems.
The poor egalrin does get her rest. Several good moments pass - before as always in all horror stories, footsteps begin to approach. Not only footsteps - little dancing footsteps, with the distant sound of a sloshing bottle.
"This one wondered if it wasn't just the rainbow that had fallen from the sky." A familiar voice says, as Aelwyn moves to stand besides her with a tilt of his hips; his ruddy scales were exposed down to nothing but his loincloth, scales glistening with the hazy moisture in the air. He was loving the weather, it seems, and his scales shone brilliant as if on fire.
"A drink?" The ruddy sith-makar offers then, shaking the blank brown bottle at Slixvah.
There's a noise under the bridge. Grunt, thok, grunt, thok, grunt, thok. What could be making the noise? It doesn't take a great deal of examination to find the source of it. A couple of bits of wood have been nailed together to form a rudimentary target, which a certain beady-eyed goblin is using for target practice in the shade. And her weapon of choice? Knives. She has plenty of them. They are slid from hidden spots about her body- hips, ankles, under her arms, flipped over so she holds them by the blade, and then hurled at the target one by one.
She seems rather single minded, not noticing that her little patch of shade is being invaded by a variety of bright colors until she heads towards the makeshift target to retrieve her knives, and her eyes sweep across the pair. A pair she recognizes. She is the polar opposite of both of them- covered from head to toe in shades of grey, even her skin- or rather, the thin sliver of skin exposed between mask and hood- is grey.
The little sound of feet running down the stairs is heard, made by an albino Goblin in a green summer dress and a wide-rimmed straw hat. She immediately runs towards the river, pausing at the Rada shrine to say a soft prayer, before she's knee deep into the water. Simony peers into the shining waters, following the movements of the fish there. She seems content to splash about, eventually wading up to her waist, before she dare not go further.
Slix cracks her eyes open, getting a full view of Aelwyn and his ruddy self. Her expression crinkles to an amused smile. "If rainbows be fallin', we gots real problems," she jokes back, reaching up to the take bottle and throwing back a shot through the side of her beak. There's a heavy grimace, and her face twists as she hands it back. "Buh, wha' is tha'?"
Her attention drifts past him, squinting into the shade of the bridge. Only just now taking in the target practice, and the little one. The sheer amount of grey of them sparks some inkling of familiarity, but the hue was new and different. No, that's not what made recognition click. "Oh. Culix." It was the sheer amount of knives.
Exhausted as she was, Simony's arrival melds into the general background noise for her.
Aelwyn takes the bottle and knocks back a shot himself and looks back over his shoulder; tail whipping above his behind. It may have not been the TarRaCe's finest brew, but the pubs in the ports did know how to make a strong drink. "Ah, Knives? This one supposes it is better to hide amongst the beach goers than stab those in the Colosseum." He flashes his teeth at Slixvah, before he moves to lean against the statues himself.
"So what has brought Ribbon so down and exhausted this fine day? Should she not also be lurking with the water?" The draconian asks, as his eyes drift over to stare at the familiar gobbo in the river.
One by one the knives are stowed back in their respective hiding places, one on this hip, one on that, a couple tucked up the sleeves for quick access, and of course a couple of emergency boot knives. With each of the blades stowed again, the goblin makes her way out from the shade towards the gathering group, offering a nod in recognition at the faces she knows. "Wasn't so busy when I started, and it's too bright at the colosseum. Thought about going to one of my old haunts and practicing there. But have you been in the sewers this time of year? I don't recommend it."
Her own beady eyes follow Aelwyn's over towards the albino gobbo frolicking in the water. She perhaps looks somewhat jealous. Her dark leathers are bound to be stiflingly hot in weather like this. But she has an image to maintain, after all. "Bring on overcast autumn days and long nights, already." she complains, a directionless plea to the universe.
Simony squints for several long moments, peering at the others nearby. She lifts a hand to wave enthusiastically. "Heeeeeeeeey! Slixvaaaaah! Aelwyn!"
The albino begins moving closer to the bridge, walking slowly and carefully against the current. She gasps, and suddenly dunks herself into the water, coming up a moment later with a modest sized crab in her hands. "What is this?!" Turning the critter around, the Gobbo is surprised by the sudden snapping at by it's oversized claw. "Such an aggressive beast."
A raven swoops down at lighting speed, making a move for that crab. If one has keen ears, one might hear a high-pitched shout of "Offerrrringggg!"
Slixvah's wings push against the ground to get the egalrin woman to sit up more. "As fun as th' water sounds, I ain't a good swimmer, and I reall' jus' wanted a breather mo' than anything. Just, ya kno', gettin' some help from th' temples fo' the Aerie," she elaborates.
Ah, so it was Culix. "Good ta see ya, shug. I'd rather try ta avoid sewers if I can. Lil' claustrophobic down there, ya kno'?" She rattles her wings.
Her head turns to whoever they were speaking to-- "Oh! Moni! Heya, girl," she waves tiredly back. Her brows raise, and her beak clacks in a somewhat hungry looking manner. "/That/ looks like a right grand lunch fo-"
A raven divebombs. "-Ohshi-"
"Shaaaard!" can be heard from the bridge, the shout loud as if amplified by magic, perhaps, and deeper than a fog horn.
Which will make sense when the unit known as Kaj is spotted launching himself off the bridge, man-sized tendrils of green dreadlocks trailing behind, and a Warkilt providing a mentally-scarring but definitive answer to the question: Do Giantborn wear underpants under their kilts??
"White, don't let the monster eat one." Aelwyn greets with a wave of his bottle - the other held his glaive, after all. Then his head turns towards Culix. "No, this one definitely does not wish for those cool, long dark days or the -" His nostrils seem to go inwards. Then double over and go inwards again, as if to kill a particularly rancid memory.
The orange eyes drift down towards Slixvah though. "Ribbon should know this one could easily help her carry-" He begins - but that's about all he gets before the Ravens and the Giants start attacking poor Simony stuck in the water.
"Eh the storm drains aren't too bad." Culix retorts. Of course, she has a different perspective. Almost 3 feet different. "But this time of year, the stink travels further afield from the real nasty ones." she adds a moment later. She peers over towards the crab, and tilts her head, "Pretty sure that's a rare pincered Gelhorn." she tells Simony, as matter-of-factly as she can. "That one's a baby, they grow to about thirty feet tall and spit acid." she tugs down her mask for a bit of fresh air, revealing that the color is gone from all of her face now- no splotches or green remain.
"Better the sewers than that jungle." She continues the previous thread, plucking it back up before it drifts out of the weft of the conversation. "Didn't know at the time, but I reckon it was Am'shere. Bugs as long as... well, me. And that big lizard come sniffing around. Bloody portals." she grumbles.
GAME: Culix rolls bluff: (12)+9: 21 GAME: Simony rolls sense motive: (20)+3: 23
Simony huffs at the incoming raven, waving a hand frantically. "SHOOOOO! Not for you!", she hollers, hiding the crab behind her back. "Lunch?", she wonders, "Are these tasty?!"
The albino squints at Culix. "Oh, I didn't see you there before. A... what now? Thirty feet tall? Spit acid?" Simony squints. "It sounds like you're trying to pull my leg."
A shadow passes over her, and she turns around, peering up and squinting. "What the f..."
Slixvah blinks at Culix, not particularly from the gobbo's inane dire crab assessment, but rather from her complexion. Old memories dredge forth about the- what was basically advancing vitiligo- situation. But that isn't really commented on at present.
She looks up. Sees the giantborn blocking the sun. "Huh."
And promptly hugs her legs as Slix's large wings wrap her in a cocoon.
Kaj nails the landing, in the shallows about ten steps from Simony. But he cheats, either featherfalling or flying or something because he barely even splashes as he visibly slows down.
He glances as the raven climbs back up into the sky, it's swearing in Jotun loud and clear.
Kaj grins down at Simony, "Fast reflexes, apologies for the rudeness of my friend. I shall have him tell me the third of his names as a punishment." He looks around, recognised Aelwyn, who gets a wink in greeting. "ALL-WIN, well met!" he booms, then casts his gaze over everyone, his dreadlocks moving like octopus arms around him, one even picking up a rock to look for a crab, apparently of its own volition.
"Giant, well fought the other day." The Dragoon greets with another bow of his head, now tilting his head towards the side. There was a lot going on that he was trying to keep track of - up until he stops, taking a deep sip off his drink instead. The bottle is summarily offered to Slixvah.
"Am'shere? What is wrong with a nice, cozy, heavy and hot jungle?" The ruddy sith-makar flashes his teeth. "Maybe this one should vacate there when the white invades the streets again."
Aelwyn elbows Slixvah then. "This one offers his services with reasonable prices," He reminds her. "Discount for friends!" Flash of teeth.
GAME: Simony rolls linguistics: (18)+9: 27
The dreadlocked comet's arrival does startle Culix- to some extent. The twitchy gobber has a dagger in her hand by the time he touches down in the water. But seeing that it is in fact a very large man, and not some kind of flying octopus, the knife is not hucked in its general direction but instead rolled absently over her knuckles as she relaxes once more. "No, really." she insists to Simony. "The others are right, though, the babies are delicious. That's probably why you never see the full grown ones around. They all get ate." she adds, the blade twirling continuing. It's a new dagger, too. Remarkably well balanced, from the way it moves around her hand, slender, no guard at all, just a narrowing at the waist of the blade- good for throwing, and knife tricks. Handle of charred and oiled wood wrapped in black leather, and a fire-burnished blade, only its sharp edges catch any light at all.
"What's not wrong with it? I guess there's plenty of places to hide, if the plants didn't make you itch in places you didn't even know could itch, and the bugs couldn't pick you up an carry you off, and the ground itself didn't try to swallow you up. I was only there for a few minutes and I was nearly eaten more times in those few minutes than the rest of my life before and since." she huffs.
Simony simply stares at Kaj, the crab held in one hand. She blinks a few times, her face reddening. "You uh feeling a little breezy downstairs? Like someone left the front door open?", she wonders, before her gaze looks skywards, at the swearing Raven. "And did you teach him to speak Jotun? I'm assuming he is swearing."
Glancing sideways at Aelwyn. "What services besides set things on fire?"
The albino raises an eyebrow at Culix, "Pffft. I still doubt the veracity if your claim that this is -OW- baby giant crab." She huffs as pulls the crab away from her arm, where it'd pinched at her elbow. "Though, I do agree with your assessment of Am'shere."
There was no true tidal wave of a splash that the statue of Rada would appreciate. Slixvah pops her head out of her safety wings, perplexed, and staring. Moving dreadlocks. A talking raven. Many dots are rapidly connected as her exhaustion seems to slough away. "... I have several questions," she proposes with an intrigued smile before rising to her feet and taking the bottle from Aelwyn. Not with her hand, but with a long feather that animates on its own from her wing. "Neat trick wit' th' hair." Another swig, a grimace, and its given back to Aelwyn.
"Maybe 'cause it's hot, heavy, and ain't so cozy?" she fires back to Aelwyn as her wing returns the elbow with a thud on the shoulder. "Yes yes. Maybe later."
She nods to Culix empathetically, watching the blade twirl about before wincing at Simony getting pinched. "Sounds like Am'shere. Ain't had so many aerial predators I've had ta deal wit' in my life there. Hey uh, Moni gal, you gonna uh, eat that?" she inquires.
"I am Kaj'uru'Thaz," booms the giant, smiling at everyone again.
The perceptive among this crowd will notice that his warkilt is new, and all that hangs from it is one backpack (a pouch to him). He has no other gear visible of any kind, unless one counts the body tats and the raven as gear.
"Well met!" he says, his eyes lingering on the winged one after her feathers snake out.
he reaches up and back, gathering his locks into a sort of tail and slings it in front of one shoulder, but the dreadtacles slowly move out of place and explore or weave in the air.
Up above, a few hundred feet up, the raven has been joined by several others, though the swearing seems to have ceased or at least become inaudible.
Kaj turns his moonstone eye on Simony as 'her' crab makes noises.
"She is asking to be spared," he says to the goblin woman, "At least until she lays her eggs."
"Ugh, left with the cold shoulder again," Aelwyn rumbles in amusement as he gets up as well, hanging the bottle off his waist. He picks up his glaive and walks over towards the rest, before he eyes down Culix's fresh knive. "Nice blade. Handcrafted?" He asks with a tilt of his head. "It looks as if it has good balance to be tricksy." Flash of his teeth.
Then the sith-makar's attention flows over Simony and the crab situation. "... huh." The draconian lets out at Kaj's statement. "Perhaps White is better leaving the crab before the crab devours her instead?" He rumbles in amusement, tail whipping behind him.
"Enchanted, even." Culix replies, eyes sparkling since she's been asked about the knife she was not-so-subtly showing off. "Figured it was about time I got some upgrades." she turns to regard the very large betentacled man as he comments on the crab's speech. "Sounds like it's saying *snick snick snick* to me." she retorts, an gives a shrug. "You one of them, nature-y types then?" she asks. The dagger she's playing with is tossed up into the air, and then swiped out of it, and if all goes according to plan, palmed and slipped away out of sight, so that it looks as though it's simply vanished.
GAME: Culix rolls sleight of hand: (16)+13: 29
Simony looks to Slixvah curiously. "Are they tasty, then?" She makes as if to carry the crab to Slix, until Kaj speaks up. The Goblin peers at the crab, and then stares up at Kaj, her expression sad and teary. "R.. really?" She wanders a bit further out into the river, and dunks herself under. When she surfaces a short time later, the crab is gone. left to fend for itself.
"I couldn't eat it after hearing that.", Simony says sullenly.
GAME: Slixvah rolls alertness: aliased to perception+2: (14)+14+2: 30
"Slixvah Unmesi," the egalrin woman greets while lightly bowing, ribbons drifting in a wave from the motion before her wings settle and fold on her back. "Pleasure ta meet ya Kaj'uru'Thaz." She's oddly focused on him, regarding him overlong before her head slowly turns to Aelwyn. She just smiles sweetly to him before her attention is drawn to Culix's knifeplay. Her brows shoot up at toss. "Huh. Neat trick," she comments, Kaj having her attention too overlong and missing it. "Daggers are great. Can do a lot wit' it that ain't just stabbin'."
She answers Simony and Culix, but isn't looking at them. "Yuh, they are tasty. Even if they plead. But they all gonna do that," the bird of prey says. "Maybe he is. But I know he's like me."
She looks to Kaj, head craned up. "Are you?" she asks.
The giantborn's attention is being pulled everywhere: the dagger, the catch-n-release, his friend Aelwyn, and the ribbony witchy woman, so he misses almost everything. He is smiling, however, because he is figuratively (and mayybe literally?) the world's biggest extrovert so he's loving this.
At last, the gears click and his natural and moonstone eyes both focus on Slixvah.
"Slixvah," he repeats, nodding as he grins down at her. "I am and I am not," he replies, looking around, probably for her familiar..."May I have one of your ribbons?" he asks, completely out of nowhere.
Aelwyn tilts his head back and clicks his teeth, as he watches the blade disappears. "Ah, knife juggling. This one does miss those shows on the streets." He lets his tail move behind him. "Can she walk on blades as well?"
He flashes his teeth at Simony. "Perhaps for the better, this one supposes. They are far tastier when prepared." Slixvah and Kaj gets his attention though - and with the standoff broken off by the sudden question, the ruddy sith-makar tilts his head towards the egalrin.
Culix grins, "I used to juggle knives for coppers now and then, when I were younger." she tells him. "Walk on a knife's edge, though? Not sure I could manage that. Not yet, anyway." she muses. "Maybe I should have joined the circus, instead of a life of crime." she muses. She offers the taller folk discussing sameness and ribbons with a little wariness, but since it doesn't look like a fight just yet, she's not too concerned. She looks over to Simony, "So what do you think of the new look? Not deliberately copying you, honest." she muses.
The Goblin looks a little morose. "Now I'll have to find a different lunch.", she complains. "Kaj'uru'Thaz is quite a mouthful of a name. May we call you Kaj?", Simony asks of the Jotunblooded. She looks to Slixvah a moment, her expression curious.
Her eyes look to Aelwyn a moment. "Cooked, I take it? With spices?" The albino looks to Culix, her heat tilting from side to side. "It's an interesting colouration, and don't worry, I'm not particularly fussy about being the only albino around. Knock yourself out. I suppose it helps you blend into the dark and shadows, so it's very apt colouring."
A witch has a familiar. They always have one. But unlike the Jotun cursing raven, there is a bird. A small one. Tiny, one that would fit in the palm of a hand, or in a curl of the giantborn's finger. From his vantage point he can spy a white plumed bird nestled in a pocket on the egalrin's robes. And they're dead asleep.
And yet, the esoteric gets an esoteric answer. A couple of feathers on Slix's wings unfurl and animate, bringing forth a sky blue ribbon and a royal purple strip. Both are yanked free, and offered up. "Sentiment begets strength. Yes you may," she coos warmly. Perhaps not a fight breaking out. That would be unwise with two occultish figures in a crowded place. Maybe they were just feeling each other out? She finishes with a tease, "What woods you crawl outta?"
Kaj holds out his dinner-plate-sized hand and lets the ribbon land on it. He gently takes it and begins to wrap it around his wrist as he speaks.
"Thank you, Slixvah, may the North Wind bless you in your flight."
"Dragonier, not woods--mountains," he adds.
Looking around he offers this as well:
"Though most recently I crawled out of the belly of a Kraken." He shrugs his massive shoulder. "In fact, I failed to. Priestess Kira helped me to crawl back to this plane not many moons ago, ere her death...."
Aelwyn's sharp teeth like quite dangerously grim as he flashes them at Culix. "This one thinks she would have performed a fine show as well. Who is to say she has yet lost her chance?" He flat out skips the crime bit, as if that didn't matter. "Plenty of space for few knives to fly."
The sith-makar nods his head towards Simony. "Spices, all, drink and good company." He rumbles in amusement - before his ear pick on the other conversation. He takes a few steps and quietly pats the giant on his shoulder. If he can reach it.
"There's a place, little shed down by the docks, serves up crabs fresh from the fishing boats roasted and buttered. Do jars of pickled cockels, too." Culix suggests to Simony then. "Now I mention it, I think I might go there for lunch, myself." she says, thinking about delicious buttery crabs legs. "And I'm not really albino. More like... faded." she says then and shrugs one shoulder. "Still figuring it out myself, to be honest." she asides, still keeping her attention towards the tallfolk.
Culix winces at Kaj's story, "Now that's an adventure I've not gone on yet, nor keen to either. I've heard the Halls aren't too bad, but that's mostly from Vardaamites and they're biased to begin with. Besides, I'm not sure I'm heading that way when I kark it."
"However it happened, it's not your fault. Don't let people make you hate yourself. It looks good on you.", Simony says to Culix. "From one oddly coloured Goblin to another. And that does sound like a tasty idea for lunch, perhaps I will join you."
The Gobbo blinks at Kaj. "The belly of a kraken? How did you get there in the first place?"
Her attention turns to Slixvah. "Out of idle curiousity, how many ribbons do you have, and how did they stay in place instead of falling out?" Lastly, to Aelwyn, she nods. "What... sort of spices?"
Slixvah looks entirely pleased with the strange interaction. "Thanks hon. Iron Mountain's strength wit' ya. I kno's a thing 'bout livin' in mountains," she cheekily comments, unfurling her wings as if it explained everything as she watches those ribbons get wrapped on. But his mention of a Kraken's demise gets her a solemn look to cross her face, doubly so at the mention of Kira. "Aye. Althea's got her now. Das a good lass," she intones, dipping her head.
She's quiet, listening to Culix's condition having spread to the point where the colors practically gone. But that sharp egalrin doesn't miss that little bit about not going to Vardama. But she doesn't question it, save for a raise of a feathered brow.
She clacks her beak with a snicker. "I tie 'em to my wings themselves, they're very long," she answers, and then she cheekily dodges. "Do you really want to know how many I have? Ain't it mo' fun ta think I jus' got an endless supply?"
Kaj finally realises that everyone's going to get a kink in their necks if he doesn't do something so he walks out of the shallow water and 'sits' cross-legged--he doesn't really sit, as his butt doesn't touch the dirt but rather he hovers about two handsbreadths from it.
He finishes wrapping the blue ribbon around his wrist with the help of a dreadtentacle and makes a fist, his goblin-sized forearm looking much better with the decoration in place.
"I thank you for the Iron," he says to Slix, then looks around, now only about 5' high.
"Kira, Murdah, and I were asked to sail with a captain who was exploring the disappearance of other ships in her company. A few days out, the problem found us before we found it." He shakes his maned head, hairvines slightly flaring out for a moment, "The Kraken would not listen to reason and began destroying the ship. We could do nothing, It would have gone down with all hands, so I distracted the Kraken. By jumping in its maw and stabbing it." He grins at Aelwyn, "Always biting off more than I can chew...though that is clearly the worst metaphor for this tale."
"Spicy," Aelwyn responds to Simony, turning his head with that grim grin of his. "Would she have it anyway else?" He tilts his head. "The stands by the ports, they do know how to properly season the food, this one agrees." He flicks his bottle up and takes a merry swig from it, not too mindful of how it fits into his mouth - mostly by chomping around the neck.
Watching the somber conversation go on between the two figures of the strange and the odd, he bows his head. "With the size and excitement of Giant, this one does not fault him." He rumbles, before he turns his head towards the gobbos. "Spiced up butter crab," He suggests.
"Are Kraken known for usually listening to reason?" Culix wonders absently, not so much directed at Kaj as just an idle musing. "As for jumping in... didn't you have anything onboard you could have chucked instead? Something hard to digest, like hooks and harpoons? Khazad blasting powder, even?" she wonders. "Seems like jumping into the mouth of something actively trying to eat you is... perhaps, not the first option that would spring to mind, if I were in your shoes." a beat. "Or shoe. Reckon I could use one of them as a life raft if I had the need."
Simony nods to Slixvah, "Yes, yes I would really like to know how many. I could be more accurate in future drawings and paintings. It's not just your beautiful plumage that I want to paint properly. Do they bother you at all when you fly?"
As Kaj settles down cross-legged, without actually touching the ground, the Albino climbs up his kilt to settle on his knee. Shivering in the light breeze, she assumes a cross-legged position also, leaning back slightly on her hands. "So you basically jumped into the mouth of the beast and got swallowed?" Simony nods to Culix. "Her question is on point... do Kraken listen to reason? Do they listen at all? We're like ants to them, aren't we? When was the last time you tried talking to an ant?"
She snorts at Aelwyn then. "Well, it all depends on the food. Some foods are wholesome, healthy and filling, but taste bland. They're perfect for adding spice to. But some foods don't need spices. They're delicious on their own." Says the walking stomach that hardly chews (or tastes) anything before swallowing.
Slixvah tilts her head, watching as how Kaj practically sits in the air. Several questions and theories erupt in her head, but she keeps those herself as she bows her head to him. "Ain't a trouble," she hums before falling quiet to listen to his story. Which gets her to shudder. "Bold. Prolly somethin' I ain't eva gonna think ta do. Eitha tha' was hella brave or healla dumb, so I'll say its both," she jokes, trying to make light as she nodes towards Culix at that line of thinking. "Yuh. Me thinks tryin' ta reason wit' a Kraken is like tryin' ta reason wit' a dragon. We insects. Good luck."
She looks at Simony. Then smiles with her eyes. "I put as many as I feel like! There's just a lot. I dunno the answer! Most egalrin hate stuff on they wings, but I don't mind at all," she giggles.
The half-giant smiles, looking at the ground, obviously remembering, as it is a sad smaile.
"Althea bless Priestess Kira for all time," he says, then replies to the various comments.
"Ants are quite boring to speak with, so I take your point...we did try many things; I admit it was as Slixvah says: foolish and brave. And not in equal measures."
The giantborn seems completely unbothered by having the just-met goblin perch on him. Perhaps he has many goblin friends and is used to them seeing him as a scratchin post/living jungle gym.
Aelwyn rumbles at Simony. "Perhaps that is true, but perhaps the food could still be improved by the physical sensation as well?" One has a tongue, why not burn it?
The Dragoon makes a bow of his head at the mention of Kira once again; sharing in the commiseration. "Tch, some things in life cannot be judged by mere reason, but just action. Who is to say if Giant had not acted, that any of them would have stood here?" He points out - then he slowly creeps up behind Slixvah.
And reaches out to lazily wrap one of his red ribbons on a feather with a cheeky grin on his face.
Culix nods her head, "Yeah, well, there's plenty of things which I wouldn't say are wise, that I've gone and done anyway. Especially since I started this adventuring gig. There's something about it that brings out the reckless in you." she muses. "And good food doesn't need spices to be good. Just crab with butter is good. You get week old nanny goat meat? That needs all the spice you can find." she says then. The name Kira doesn't ring a bell to her- at least, not more than a passing one, perhaps mentioned by people she knows, but never met- so she doesn't comment on it.
Simony pouts lightly at Slixvah. "Okay, keep your secrets.", she says softly, before grinning toothily. "But uhm... think I could have one too, one of your ribbons, I mean? I'll trade you a painting, even!"
The Gobbo shakes her head at Aelwyn. "No, heat for heat's sake is a bit of a waste. You need to appreciate a food's natural flavours, and only use spices to accentuate it. Not smother it."
Simony yawns, looking a little sleepy, and then squeaks, a hand slipping and the Gobbo tumbles head over heels from Kaj's knee. Her head pops up a moment later, and she stands up slowly. Right in the middle of Kaj's lap. Her head cants side to side, and moments later, she's bouncing up and down into the air, as if the kilt were a giant trampoline.
"Yes, Culix, sometimes less is more, a good very good point."
Slixvah bows her head once more at Kira's name out of respect. Such a priestess of a rare gem. "Fair fair," she shrugs to Aelwyn, her turning her to look at him- where'd he go?
"Oh!" A ribbon was being added to her large wings. Those crimson ones cut to look like feathers were still present and well taken care of. She spreads her wings, opening up space for a new ribbon.
Well, space is made anyways as she tugs free a seafoam green ribbon and hands it over to Simony before they tumble over. "There ya go, sugar. No trade needed."
The constant subject of food keeps getting brought up, and lunch has been thrown into the river. "... I'm willin' ta try most anything once. Even if its spicy as the fire planes."
Kaj lets the conversation flow around him for a while, then points at Culix. "I lost a fine blade to the Kraken, though not as fine as that." He grins. "in fact, I lost everything except a small pile of coins my friend held in trust." He shrugs whichs makes Simony bounce on his kilt a bit, "But that is a new beginning." He pauses, looks West. "Though I will go beg an archmage for a favour this evening."
Aelwyn reaches over with his fingers and neatly ties up the ribbon onto a feather; rumbling as he gives it one last flick. "That is for her service."
Stepping away, he stares at the conversation around him - before his stomach just lets out a sound. "Hhn. This one is getting hungry by all this discussion." He looks wistfully at the river, but perhaps he should not with Kaj around. "And what kind of favor is Giant seeking?"
"Ox Stength is good for curry, but I'm not in the mood for anything too spicy when it's already warm out." Culix muses on the topic of food, "I think I'm gonna go to that shed I mentioned." she says, though the topic of begging an archmage for a boon makes her ears twitch and she looks back to Kaj.
"Sounds like risky business. Never had much trust for finger-wiggly types, till more recently." but since the pertinent question has been asked she leaves it at that.
With an excited squeak, the Goblin is bounced a bit higher into the air by the Jotunblooded's shrug. "Again again!", she calls out, clearly enjoying the air time. The seafoam green ribbon in her hand streams up and down as she goes. "It is a shame that you lost your things, Kaz, that would be heartbreaking to me." It takes her a few bounces for her momentum to bleed off, but once she is no longer bouncing, she leans into his torso, attempting to hug Kaj, despite her being smol compared to his... well, giantness.
"Thanks for the ribbon, Slixvah! I will find a good spot to wear it!" Simony giggles at Aelwyn, and nods to Culix. "The Ox is great for curry. Just don't ask why the seagulls are all gone whenever the Ox has wing night. They also have a disturbing lack of rats which I am at a loss to explain..."
Slix shakes her head. "I kno' a bit 'bout tryin' ta come back from nothin'," she mentions, a bit of a raw twinge to her voice. But she turns some to bump Aelwyn with her wing. "Thankies, Flutter."
The egalrin makes a clicking sound in her throat, an egalrin sound of disapproval, like she was tsking. "Ox and I gots... pretty spotty history. I'll take ya word fo' it, but I ain't steppin' foot in there 'gain."
She looks interested in what someone wants to deal with an archmage, but she's eyeing the sky. Reading it. That stomach is rumbly, and she's prepared to go someplace as the crow (Slix) flies.
"My dear Murdah and Kira gave me life, after that, all else is easy to see as things one merely is a steward of, like I am for the animals the gods bring into my care," says Kaj, giving Aelwyn a knowing look when he says the word 'gods'.
As for the archmage, I knew him when he was but an apprentice, and will ask him for a boon, but nothing permanent. I will not say more now."
Aelwyn bows his head at the giant, "Then one does as they deem best, Giant." He replies, straightening as he clicks his teeth. He doesn't comment on the word gods, except to say, "This one hopes they are feeling better." He flashes his sharp teeth. "As we surely are not soon."
The draconian picks up his glaive and bows his head. "This one gained a hunger, therefore this one shall hunt for the story of this stall." He gives a look towards Culix and Simony, and a playful tap at Slixvah's ankles. With that, he bows his head and starts to head off the side of the river.
As everyone seems to be breaking of to go for Lunch, Culix casts one more glance around. "Food sounds good... but I got some stuff to see to first. Might see you all later." she muses, and pulls her mask back up onto her face, takes a few paces back towards the shade of the bridge and then simply blends into it as she's walking away, like a heat mirage retreating s one draws nearer to it.
GAME: Culix rolls stealth+4: (15)+17+4: 36 GAME: Simony rolls perception: (20)+11: 31
-End Scene-