3:03:43: <StoryTeller> Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. Winter has come to the land, and in your travels you've come to the sleepy village of Irasque. Stumbling in from the cold, the Belle and Bard inn has three rather unusual new patrons.
03:04:42: <StoryTeller> The innkeeper and bar-mistress, a heavily pregnant human woman, idly polishes her glasses while giving her new guests a curious look every once in a while.
03:07:38: Vraya sits by a window, idly stroking the edge of a cup of water. Pale blue eyes gaze out to the snow, entirely disinterested in the hustle and bustle of her surroundings. Men cheer their next pint as she sips away, knees knocked together on a seat two sizes too small.
03:08:34: kallista is a slight tiefling with pale pink skin and even paler hair. Her face has a look of natural innocence to it, somewhat betrayed by the ever present mischievous glint in her sulfur yellow eyes. She pulls her hood from her head as she steps into the inn and shakes snow from her shoulders.
03:09:24: <Feng> A shadow loomed into the inn from the front door. Grayish skin, bleached white hair, and three hundred pounds of orcish brawn shivered briskly as he stepped into the tavern.
03:10:01: <StoryTeller> The room goes...somewhat quiet as the men glance at the new arrivals. There's a moment of confused silence before the Bar-Mistress speaks up.
03:10:22: <Vraya> Parchment is spread out in front of her; jagged glyphs of Draconic language etched in faint ink. A chill wind blows from the door, but where other guests pause, Vraya in her white scales sits unmoved; uncaring.
03:10:27: <StoryTeller> "Welcome to the Belle and Bard, travelers!" She calls, giving the pair of you a genuine smile. "You two looking for board for the night?"
03:10:36: <Feng> Despite the violent tremors, the half-breed gives a pleasant smile as he takes a direct path to the bar-mistress.
03:11:17: <StoryTeller> (She quietly steadies a jug that had begun vibrating to the edge of the counter)
03:11:50: <Feng> "W-why yes, my fair lady! As much as my modest wages would allow, I s-seek shelter from the biting weather."
03:12:28: <kallista> Kallista gives a wide and practiced smile, "Absolutely my lady!" She brandishes a lute, "I also come bearing tale and song! If any charitable soul would provide me with a pint to wet my throat I would gladly share."
03:13:12: <StoryTeller> "Well then I think we can accomodate a big lad like yourself, and you too young miss! Please, feel free to take a seat. I'll get your room keys in a bit." She idly rubs her back. "I'm a wee bit...challenged...at the moment."
03:14:16: <Vraya> At last a bard for this prophesized title. A belle has yet to appear, by Vraya's estimation. Her ears prick. "I'll give you your pint, bardess. A song in exchange?"
03:14:18: <StoryTeller> "Ah, another bard!" Her eyes light up. "I used to be a wanderer like yourself when I was in my prime." She nods to above the fireplace, where a rapier and a lute lay crossed above the mantle. "Its how the place got its name, after all. I'm the belle, and the bard!"
03:14:32: <StoryTeller> "And you've even got a willing taker!"
03:15:13: <StoryTeller> A pair of pints are promptly produced by the pregnant proprietress
03:15:31: <Feng> Feng pulls his fist upward dramatically "Think nothing of it! Take however long you need."
03:16:24: Vraya stands up with great ceremony, gliding to the front table. Vraya takes a moment to search her pouch, and sets down a gold coin. How much a pint or two is actually worth, she is unconcerned by.
03:17:11: <kallista> Kallista's smile grew even wider, she takes an overly dramatic bow. "And I have no doubt that you're still just as beautiful as in your adventuring days fair lady! Thank you for your hospitality." She sits down at the bar and begins to strum her lute, "And thank you for your charity as well my friend!" She says to Vraya.
03:17:52: <kallista> The tiefling takes a long drink from her ale, "What will it be then? Heroics? Comedy? A sad tale of love lost?"
03:18:52: <Vraya> Vraya simply grunts in response, white scales and slitted eyes betraying little. "Whatever it is you're best at. My idea of a song is not a common taste among the local kind."
03:19:27: <Vraya> Distant sounds of roaring and words like crushed glass are heard just over the howl of the frigid wind.
03:21:51: <kallista> Kallista glances at the door and frowns slightly. "Perhaps something happy, it seems inappropriate to tell of unpleasant doings on such a night."
03:22:34: <StoryTeller> "Drunks do love their happy tales." The woman winks. "Bianca, by the way. Pleasure to be serving you all tonight!"
03:23:27: <Feng> "Yes! Yes! A bit of joy would seem appropriate for the occasion!" Feng says, loudly injecting himself into the discussion between them.
03:24:06: <StoryTeller> She pushes herself back with a grunt and moves over to her key board. She fishes two keys off the hooks and sets them on the counter before Feng and Kallista.
03:25:19: <Feng> "Thank you kindly." He says, tucking the key into his belt, oblivious to how easy it would be to lose it in there.
03:25:28: <kallista> "It's settled then!" Kallista strums her lute dramatically, "Fair people I shall tell you the tale of Alairic the Wizard and his magic brooms. You would not think that a simple spell to cause the floors to sweep themselves would end in such disaster... but so it did!"
03:25:56: <Vraya> Vraya says nothing, though the concerns of the two arrivals regarding the wintry night are impossible to understand. The cold air and packed snow outside invite her, if anything.
03:26:13: kallista quickly palms the key and drops it in her belt pouch
03:26:55: <StoryTeller> The townsfolk turn to face the tiefling, drunk and eager for entertainment from this lovely lass.
03:27:34: <StoryTeller> They raise their glasses in ambigious cheers.
03:31:17: <kallista> Kallista tells the story with great enthusiasm, accompanied with lively music. Of how the brooms began by sweeping the floors, then washing them, and then quickly progressed to flooding poor Alairic's house. As she finished with a grin she said, "And the moral of this story good people, is if you want something done right, you do it yourself."
03:31:58: <StoryTeller> The men applaud and hoot and whistle a bit, eager for more from the tiefling newcomer.
03:32:30: kallista moves on to a wordless song giving her voice a chance to recover a bit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BArA23NqVI
03:32:59: <StoryTeller> Bianca looks on approvingly at the junior bard.
03:34:30: <Vraya> Vraya sits on her straining stool, a look of thoughtful contemplation barely discernible on her ice-hewn features. Common music was still not to her liking, but it was interesting enough.
03:36:51: <Vraya> "I would suppose that was worth a pint. You have my thanks, red bardess."
03:38:03: <StoryTeller> As the second song fades out, Bianca, with a look of regret, hushes down the cheering men. "Alright boys, you've had your fun! I know for a fact most of you need to be out in the woods tomorrow for the syrup harvest."
03:38:05: <kallista> "It was absolutely my pleasure my friend. Thank you very much for the pint."
03:38:25: <StoryTeller> "And that your wives will box your ears in if they hear you've been eying up the latest lass to stroll into town.
03:38:27: <StoryTeller> "
03:38:47: <StoryTeller> With grumbles and sheepish glances, the men begin to pack their bags. With the exception of one rather younger lad, who looks rather more hopeful.
03:38:52: <Vraya> Vraya is unconcerned with gazers.
03:39:17: <StoryTeller> "And you, Mikhail, will have your mother bite your arse off if she thinks you're going to be running off with a wandering minstrel."
03:39:26: <StoryTeller> The young lad looks a lot less hopeful.
03:40:13: <kallista> Kallista laughs, though not unkindly, "I'm sorry my friend, but I only travel alone."
03:40:30: <StoryTeller> The village men file out, and leave the three of you alone with Bianca. Once the door slams shut and the last of the snowflakes from outside settle on the floorboards, Bianca promptly ladles out a quick three bowls of delicious smelling lamb stew.
03:40:33: <StoryTeller> "On the house."
03:41:03: <StoryTeller> She places them infront of you with an easy grin. "I've been on the road before, I know how nice a hot meal can be after wanderin in out of a gale like that."
03:41:35: <StoryTeller> "(But you only get the first bowl free.)" ;)
03:41:46: <Vraya> "For them, perhaps. But you have my thanks, lady innkeeper."
03:42:04: <kallista> Kallista's stomach rumbles audibly, and she gives a sheepish grin, "Many thanks my lady. The road has been a bit harder than usual today. Too much snow and wind for my taste."
03:42:15: Vraya stabs a floating piece of lamb with a claw and drops it into a waiting maw.
03:43:27: <Feng> "A shame, I would likely bankrupt any inn that offered no limits on complimentary food." Feng says, though you're not quite sure how much of it is in jest.
03:44:09: Feng promptly takes the steaming bowl and tilts it over, draining it like a funnel.
03:44:17: <Feng> It takes him maybe....
03:44:22: <Feng> three... four seconds.
03:44:29: <Feng> "Delicious! :D"
03:44:57: <StoryTeller> Bianca laughs like a loon and slaps the Half-Orc lad on the arm. "Now /thats/ what I like to see in a lad!"
03:45:18: kallista eats ravenously, she indeed looks like a woman starved
03:45:41: <Feng> "You have my compliments for this lovely stew!" A gout of steam escapes on his breath as he speaks. For the sake of your own sanity you assume that this is from the cold.
03:47:17: <Vraya> Vraya is somewhat more methodical than her fellow diners, but roughly as savage. Claw strips lamb from bone with calculated precision, peeled apart before being dumped into her waiting mouth. She gives the remaining stew and all the waiting vegetables little thought."
03:47:23: <Vraya> -"
03:47:51: <StoryTeller> "I must say, its a rare day we get anyone other than a boring old human out in Irasque. A tiefling, a Dragonborn, and a Half-Orc all in one evening, and not even traveling together? There must be some story behind all of ye." She slaps the counter and lumbers around to a chair, where she rests her aching legs.
03:47:54: kallista wastes no time in gulping the broth down as soon as everything solid has been devoured
03:48:09: <Vraya> "No story. I travel and I tire."
03:48:44: <Feng> "Well, that would depend on how familiar my present company is with the Nelanther Isles."
03:49:14: <kallista> "Well you know how it is. A bard goes where the inns are. I must say though, the reception I've had here is far more pleasant than in the last village."
03:49:40: <Feng> "If that's not the case, I suppose you could call me a travelling samaritan. Charity does not feed me well, but it feeds me regardless."
03:50:46: <StoryTeller> "Four months there, in the Nelanther isles, with a half-orc whose chest you could eat off of." :p
03:50:56: <StoryTeller> "And the men here know better than to stir up trouble in my inn."
03:51:40: <kallista> "Oh I didn't even get inside of the last inn. One look at the horns and they sent me on my way. Not a friendly lot them."
03:51:42: <StoryTeller> "You know how village folk can believe the silly little stories they hear about anything that didn't get born in the midwife's sitting room."
03:51:52: <StoryTeller> "I set them straight." :]
03:51:59: <Vraya> "You keep a tidy order."
03:52:44: <kallista> "Oh certainly. City folk will believe them too. It's unfortunate, but such is life I suppose."
03:53:01: <Feng> "Hrm. I am unfamiliar with the phrase, though I suspect it could also apply to me!" He says, his laughter reverberating off the old wooden walls of the inn.
03:53:02: <StoryTeller> "Ten years on the open road, with the wind at my back and a band of brothers at my sides. They know that even with this babe in my belly I can still shove a pitcher down their throats."
03:53:17: <StoryTeller> Bianca joins in with the laughter.
03:53:38: Vraya does not.
03:53:44: <StoryTeller> "The three of you simply planning to move on once the morning comes and the storm clears off, then?"
03:53:57: kallista chuckles and takes another long gulp of her ale
03:54:29: <kallista> "I was considering it, though if the road looks too ugly I may stay for awhile yet."
03:55:06: <Feng> Feng shakes his head as his voice dies down to a tittering. "Yes, I heard news of some trouble down south. Though perhaps that is me simply justifying my distaste for the weather here."
03:55:22: <Feng> "Your hospitality, on the other hand, has given me second thought."
03:57:20: <Vraya> "I will go tomorrow, storm or not. A pilgrimage does not stop at every kind patron."
03:58:48: <StoryTeller> "Well spoken then. Though I'd recommend that the three of you at least stick together until the next town, if ye do go. The roads in the winter are treacherous, and the journeys of youth are meant to be taken with others, after all." She gives you all a warm smile, that gives into a pained grimace as she hoists herself up. "Ugh, this damned baby."
03:59:35: <StoryTeller> "He'll be another month, but by gods I'm ready to charge the little bastard rent for what he's done to my back."
03:59:50: <StoryTeller> "Now, let me show the three of you your rooms. They aren't the most extra-"
04:00:08: <StoryTeller> Its at this point where the door to the tavern is flung open, letting in a blast of cold air.
04:00:46: <StoryTeller> "BIANCA, BIANCA!" An old woman screeches as she hurtles in from the cold, only to trip and fall at the feet of the former bard. (And the current bard!)
04:01:25: kallista quickly moves past the old woman to heave the door shut before any more snow can fly in
04:02:34: <StoryTeller> Bianca hurriedly (after much wincing) kneels and helps the woman to a kneeling position. "Siobhan? Whats gotten you out here at this time of night?" The friendly tavern owner dissolves, and you can see the intensity of youth slowly rush back into Bianca.
04:03:56: <StoryTeller> When she doesn't answer, Bianca looks up at all of you. "This is Siobhan o'Leery, the baker's wife. She lives in the next building over."
04:04:11: <StoryTeller> "Th-they've eaten him!"
04:04:22: <StoryTeller> "Something's eaten my Roland!"
04:05:05: <StoryTeller> "I-I heard something in the basement and I sent him down there with the broom to kill it, and when I looked down he was laying there with blood all over him and he told me to run!"
04:05:12: Vraya opens her mouth to say something, then closes. It's unlikely that a Roland is some sort of bread-roll.
04:05:16: <Vraya> No, it is not.
04:05:37: kallista raises her eyebrows almost to the base of her horns, "That does not sound good."
04:05:54: <StoryTeller> Bianca hurriedly gets to her feet, and is halfway through marching to grab her lute and rapier before the fact that she's heavily pregnant catches up with her. Painfully.
04:06:01: <Feng> For but a moment, Feng is completely silent .
04:06:51: <Feng> "Ma'am, we will investigate this at once." He says, rising to his full titanic height.
04:06:53: <Feng> "
04:06:56: <Vraya> "He's been eaten, you say. Yet he could speak?"
04:07:17: <StoryTeller> "They did that in just a few minutes!"
04:07:31: <Feng> "And /you/" He says, turning to Bianca and lightly but firmly guiding her to the nearest chair. "Shall rest."
04:07:46: <StoryTeller> "oh my Roland!" The old woman's face falls into her hands, and she weeps.
04:07:52: Vraya nods, her throat thrumming in a vague sound of understanding.
04:08:03: <Feng> "I refuse to allow a woman so burdened yet so pleasant to face such a beast."
04:08:43: <Feng> "If either of you two wish, you can join me. I will not hold it against you if you decline."
04:08:46: <StoryTeller> "Let me up! I'm the town arse-kicker and I can kill a hundred of those blasted things with orcish triplets in this thing!"
04:09:03: <StoryTeller> She says, trying to rise again. Her spine then promptly shuts her back down.
04:09:10: <StoryTeller> "...okay, you may have a point."
04:09:28: <Feng> Feng turns back to Bianca, kneeling so that he is (almost) at eye level."
04:09:47: <Feng> "You are brave, and you can surely handle yourself in a fight."
04:10:00: <Feng> "That's why this town /needs/ you."
04:10:22: kallista looks about as though wondering who 'we' was, then she looks over and the old woman and sighs, deflating slightly. She really did not want to march right into danger. "I shall come along. It would... not be right of me to refuse to help in this situation."
04:10:35: <Feng> "When you are free of your burdens, you will be the guardian of your own home. And it is not just yourself you must consider."
04:10:56: <Feng> "I beg of you, let me return your hospitality."
04:11:09: <StoryTeller> "...The lasses must /love/ you."
04:11:49: <StoryTeller> "Alright then. Go then. You!" She looks to Kallista. "Under the counter, there are three bottles of healing potion. Use them."
04:12:33: <Feng> Feng nods in complete seriousness. "I have faced truly bottomless desire in my time." He rises, gripping the two blades sheathed in his belt.
04:12:35: Vraya finishes the last of her lambchop whole, snapping bone marrow with careless ease. "One supposes it would be somewhat careless to leave this unhandled. Your task shall be done."
04:12:44: <Feng> "Truly, even now your generosity knows no bounds!"
04:13:38: <kallista> Kallista nearly jumps to attention, then immediately moves behind the counter to retrieve the three potions. "Thank you," She says with much less levity than usual, "Everybody take one. We may well need these before the night is out."
04:14:00: <StoryTeller> "Thank ye. Now go. But don't get in over your heads, young'uns!"
04:14:05: <Feng> "It is my duty to ensure this kindness is not without reward!" He says, palming one of the potions.
04:14:19: <Vraya> She tromps outside the door, closing her eyes for a moment as the frost-bitten night air and pale snow meets her scales.
04:14:21: <StoryTeller> "Bravery doesn't make up for sense!"
04:14:23: <Feng> "There are /very/ few things that are over my head, Ma'am!"
04:14:46: <Feng> With that, Feng follows the Dragonkind out of the inn.
04:14:58: <StoryTeller> "Siobhan. Go with them. Roland may need you." The old woman slowly rises from the floor, and scurries to the door after the dragonborn
04:15:39: kallista follows after the others, stowing her lute and drawing a rapier as she goes
04:16:50: <Vraya> It had been just a week since she'd last fought something. A year since she did it on her own honour. Blue smoke trails from flaring nostrils, the rest of Vraya's body tense with primal anticipation.
04:18:42: <StoryTeller> Siobhan leads you through the snow, to the home of the bakers. The door hangs open, and scraps of paper have been blown helter skelter. You can see the door to her basement, a dark square against the light of the lantern laying on its side before it.
04:19:40: <StoryTeller> "ROLAND?!" Mrs. O'Leery calls down the steps, panicked.
04:19:41: <StoryTeller> There is no response.
04:19:58: <StoryTeller> The old woman whimpers as she stares down the steps into their cellar.
04:20:37: <Feng> "Please, stay behind us." Feng says to the woman as he draws both of his weapons, long, straight edged swords that look large enough to be used with both hands. He makes his way to the cellar steps.
04:21:16: <Feng> He readies one blade tipped down into the abyss, the other with its flat balanced on his shoulder, as he makes his way down the stairs.
04:22:32: Vraya strides down with martial authority and little else.
04:22:47: <StoryTeller> As you advance down into the basement, you see a faint, flickering light down to the side. As you round the end of the stairway, you can make out the darkened form of shelves, presumably covered with fine baked goods and baked good accessories.
04:23:29: <StoryTeller> Laying at the far end of the cellar is a discarded but unbroken and lit lantern.
04:23:41: <StoryTeller> It lays besides a pair of torn leggings.
04:25:22: <StoryTeller> And, at the very edge of your hearing, you hear the sound of strained, close breathing.
04:25:57: Feng carefully makes his way to the lantern, picking it up with his off hand. He raises it to eye level.
04:26:10: <Feng> All the while being careful to make as little sound as possible.
04:26:12: <Vraya> "Devourer of Roland, show yourself." Vraya declares.
04:26:27: <Feng> http://i.imgur.com/3U59QaT.gif
04:27:04: <kallista> "Shhhhhh," Kallista hisses
04:27:21: <StoryTeller> Laying at your feet is an old man, who you presume is Roland the Baker. Vicious wounds to his torso and legs have nearly sent him over the edge and to the reaper.
04:27:34: <StoryTeller> But his eyes are still open. Glassy, yet open. They weakly focus on you.
04:27:41: <StoryTeller> "r-ruuuuunnnnnn"
04:28:27: <Feng> Without a doubt in his mind, Feng immediately drops to one knee, sheathing one of his swords and retrieves his potion from his belt.
04:28:48: <Feng> "Be still. Help has arrived." He looks back to the others with a gesture to the ceiling.
04:28:50: <StoryTeller> Its at that point when the dire rat leaps out of the shadows and at Feng's throat.
04:31:03: <kallista> "Fucking shitmuffins!" Kallista squeaks.
04:31:42: <StoryTeller> Another rat emerges from the shadows by the staircase and makes a go to bite at Vraya's scaley legs.
04:32:19: <Vraya> Another comes for Vraya, sinking foul teeth into her crystalline hide. She hisses in pain, pale eyes narrowing on her assailant.
04:33:08: <Feng> Feng brings up one of his arms to stave off the lethally aimed attack. This of course leads to the giant rodent sinking its teeth into his bicep.
04:33:37: <Feng> To his credit, the surprised yelp is restrained to a squawking noise that is far too high-pitched for his throat to handle.
04:41:37: <Feng> Of course, the dire rat is now dangling a few feet off the ground hanging from the half-breed's arm.
04:42:05: <StoryTeller> It doesn't necessarily yet see how this could be a bad situation
04:42:13: <StoryTeller> Even if its current meal tastes funny
04:43:13: <Feng> Feng swings the sword in his other arm under and up into the creature's throat. With an annoyed grunt he withdraws it from the not-quite-so-lethal stab.
04:43:15: <Feng> And repeats.
04:44:21: <Feng> The rat's corpse, missing its head, flops weakly to the floor. The creature twitches a few times before becoming completely still.
04:44:51: <Feng> Meanwhile, Feng glances at his arm with the rat's head still embedded in it like it was a pickaxe.
04:44:54: <Feng> "... /ow/."
04:46:27: <StoryTeller> As he does, another rat emerges from the darkness and pounces for Feng's face, only to stumble and miss.
04:46:53: <StoryTeller> Two more of the vermin, more cautiously, approach the stairway and the woman on it.
04:47:21: Vraya winces briefly. Then moves. Seven feet tall. As wide as a drawer. As finely cut as raw crystal. Then she's gone. Dashing forward, staff in hand. She whips her assailant across the side with a lightning fast strike, connecting to the matted fur with a harsh snap. Bones break. It falls to its' side, limp. And Vraya is there in an instant, standing over it.
04:48:01: <Vraya> A hand dives towards its' neck, claws wrapping around the thrashing rat. A firm squeeze, and the thrashing stops.
04:48:28: kallista begins to whisper something under her breath, Vraya and Feng just barely hear something like horribly discordant music. One of the rats however hears a bit more.
04:51:10: <kallista> The rat shudders, and then with a sick red squirt, its liquified brain begins to leak out of its ears.
04:51:52: <StoryTeller> The O'Leeries would be having a very troubling time cleaning this basement later.
04:55:43: <Feng> With a wince, as a trickle of blood begins to seep into his gauntlet, Feng flips Roland onto his back and force-feeds the potion as quickly as he can without causing the man to choke on it.
04:56:40: <StoryTeller> As the elixer passes his lips, Roland's wounds begin to seal themselves back up at an astonishing rate. Bianca apparently keeps the good stuff under the counter. With a gurgle and a gasp, he jolts back into conciousness.
04:56:47: <StoryTeller> "I-I'm alive?"
04:57:52: <StoryTeller> "ROLAND IS THAT YOU!?"
04:58:27: <StoryTeller> Sio is peeking down around the end of the stairway, up next to Kallista. She looks half relieved, and half...
04:58:47: <StoryTeller> "How'd you end up in such a sorry state to /rats/?!"
04:58:51: <StoryTeller> ...Matronly.
04:59:20: <StoryTeller> "Apologies for not being able to beat rats the size of lambs to death with a bloody dusting-broom!"
04:59:23: <StoryTeller> Roland replies in kind.
04:59:31: <kallista> "In fairness they're really big rats?"
04:59:31: <Feng> "Ma'am I- /sir/"
05:00:07: <Vraya> Another rat dives towards Vraya. Much too slow. She catches it as it pounces, twirling as she throws it back onto the ground. It squeals in pain, and Vraya's staff crashes down to meet its' skull.
05:00:13: <Feng> "We can leave the discussion for later!"
05:00:18: <StoryTeller> You feel you understand their relationship much better now.
05:00:33: <Feng> [Social Link Ranku Up]
05:00:58: <StoryTeller> "What did they do, lay a wire down and trip you up?"
05:01:10: <StoryTeller> "They hit me over the head with one of your loaves, /deary/"
05:01:51: <StoryTeller> "WELL IF YOU'D SPEND OUR MONEY ON SOME /PROPER/ FLOUR!"
05:02:38: <Feng> "There is a rat in my arm at the moment!"
05:03:19: <kallista> "And four more to deal with."
05:03:32: <StoryTeller> Kallista is right, as three more beasts emerge from the darkness
05:04:08: <StoryTeller> Roland takes this as the right time to book it.
05:04:09: <kallista> "I hate it when I'm right," Kallista scowls
05:05:22: <StoryTeller> Hobbling as fast as he can, and trying to ignore how odd his saviours look, he passes Kallista and Vraya on the stairway and into the loving embrace of his wife.
05:05:35: <StoryTeller> They stand at the top of the steps, holding eachother tightly for a few seconds
05:05:42: <StoryTeller> Before she bops him across the back of the head.
05:05:59: <StoryTeller> "I thought I lost you, you bloody idiot." She barely contains a sniffle.
05:08:06: <StoryTeller> The rats, not liking the prospect of losing a meal, bound up the stairway and at the nearest obstacle. That being the Tiefling.
05:09:18: <StoryTeller> Another one takes a second shot at killing the half-orc that slew its brother, and lunges for the fighter's shins.
05:10:41: <Feng> There is a sickening crunching noise, and it's not the dire rat's teeth breaking against Feng's impenetrable milk-reinforced bones.
05:10:53: <Feng> "MMMMMMMM"
05:11:00: <Feng> "*MMMMMMMMMMMMMHMMMMMMMMMMMHMMMMMMMMMMMM"
05:11:09: kallista swears in some language that literally blisters the paint on the walls. Literally. There are burn marks. She shakes her foot as a rat sinks it teeth right through her boot and into her leg.
05:14:43: kallista quaffs her potion and tries to spike the rat with her rapier while still shaking her leg, "Owowowowowowowow."
05:18:36: kallista stabs the rat repeatedly and yet the damned thing will not die, or let go of her leg. "Get off you little bastard!"
05:18:53: <StoryTeller> The little bastard finds boots delicious
05:24:45: <Feng> Feng meanwhile, has decided to respond with the somewhat inefficient action of swinging his leg until the rat falls off.
05:25:07: <Feng> Luckily, he catches a good swing and flings the rat against a wall with enough force to break its neck.
05:27:03: Vraya dashes ahead, storming toward the furthest rat with all the fury you'd expect from a dragon. She jumps, and the rat twists away - wary of her stave. But it matters little; she lands atop the beast, crushing its' bones underneath her taloned feet.
05:27:37: <StoryTeller> "...Honey where did these people come from?" Roland asks from the top of the stairs. Siobhan shrugs in response.
05:28:29: <StoryTeller> The rat on Kallista's boot decides it doesn't like the taste of boot enough to die for. Yet. It scurries off into the cellar, bleeding along the stone floor.
05:28:48: <StoryTeller> It seems to be the last rat in the blasted place. If you could just hunt it down and finish it off, you'd-
05:29:03: <StoryTeller> And thats when you hear the sound of something large and fleshy dragging itself across the floor.
05:29:43: <StoryTeller> In the chaos, none of you had yet looked to a far corner of the room, though in the light of the lantern at Feng's feet, you can see where a tunnel has broken through the stone walls.
05:29:56: <StoryTeller> And the pair of glowing red eyes drawing closer.
05:31:25: <StoryTeller> A large, boney, furry snout. A belly that sags and drags across the floor. Long, clawed feet.
05:31:31: <StoryTeller> This is the mother of all direrats.
05:31:32: <StoryTeller> Or at least
05:31:38: <StoryTeller> the mother of /these/ dire rats.
05:31:57: <StoryTeller> And she doesn't look pleased at Feng and Vraya for what they've done to her children
05:32:08: <StoryTeller> (She can't yet see Kallista, but you can assume she dissapproves)
05:34:03: kallista moves further out to get a good view of the dire rat and raises a hand, palm outwards towards the rat
05:36:07: <kallista> "Nighty Night."
05:38:20: <kallista> The huge rat flops to the ground and begins snoring. Or whatever the equivalent for rats is.
05:38:31: <StoryTeller> Its snoring.
05:42:22: <Feng> Feng roars valiantly as he hobbles his way over to the beast.
05:42:45: <Feng> It's reckless, it's sloppy, but the half-breed dives forward and sinks both of his swords into its chest.
05:43:15: <StoryTeller> The rat, rather understandably, wakes up with a jolt at this sudden impalement, and begins thrashing back and forth.
05:43:49: <StoryTeller> Its gonna bite at Vraya
05:44:17: <Feng> "This would be /much/ less tedious if I had two working arms and legs!"
05:45:22: Vraya takes advantage of the opportunity to strike, leaping forward with staff in hand. She hits naught but air. Growling in frustration, she kicks forward - and still, no luck.
05:46:22: <StoryTeller> The rat, however, takes the opportunity to catch Vraya's leg with its fangs for an instant
05:52:32: kallista moves forward to attack the fleeing rat, and misses the rat entirely.
05:57:37: <Feng> Feng meanwhile, has been reduced to dangling helplessly off of the Rat-Mother, his strength having all but left him.
06:00:40: <Vraya> Snarling, Vraya rams the massive rat with the butt of her staff. Dazed, it relinquishes its' hold, and she takes the chance to throw punch after punch into its' snout. A solid ten seconds of the brutal staccato continues, before the beast finally goes limp.
06:04:04: <kallista> The last dire rat, the gourmet boot connoisseur makes an attempt to flee. Kallista is having none of that. Her rapier darts down, piercing the rat through the spine and pinning it to the floor. It twitches several times before she pulls her blade out and stabs it again, through the skull.
06:04:49: <Feng> Feng tumbles down from the beast's torso, his blades still jammed between its ribs.
06:04:49: <StoryTeller> For a long, tense moment the three of you strain your ears to pick up on the sounds of any skittering feet. But there are no more rats. The day has been won.
06:05:07: <Feng> "... I DID IT!" He shouts, pumping his fists. Again, you're not quite certain if he's making a joke or not.
06:05:16: <StoryTeller> With a gentle creak, the door at the top of the stairs creak open.
06:05:30: <StoryTeller> "Is it safe to come down now?" The old couple ask in unison
06:05:45: <Feng> "Unless you have a rodent allergy, it would seem."
06:06:21: <StoryTeller> The pair enter, carrying another lantern, and survey the trail of rodent corpses that you three have left all around you.
06:06:40: <StoryTeller> Especially the bloated Matron still laying halfway through her entry tunnel.
06:06:56: <StoryTeller> "What are we going to do with all these bloody things?"
06:07:01: <StoryTeller> "...Y'know-"
06:07:24: <StoryTeller> "We are /not/ selling Dire Rat Meat Pies!" Mrs. O'Leery clips her husband across the back of his head
06:07:29: <kallista> "Anyone need healing?"
06:08:31: <StoryTeller> "Gonna have to get Morcus down here to burn these bloody things." Mr. O'Leery redirects, before moving up to the trio of you. "Sir, ladies, I'd be rat food if it weren't for the three of you. I can't thank you enough."
06:08:39: Vraya glances down at the various bite marks pockmarking her hide. "I imagine so."
06:08:42: <StoryTeller> "...So...who are you exactly?"
06:09:04: <kallista> "Just a passing bard."
06:09:48: <Feng> "My shinbone is shattered and there is a rotting rat skull embedded in my bicep."
06:09:51: <Feng> "I require healing."
06:10:40: <StoryTeller> Mr. O'Leery gingerly unhinges the rat-jaw from the Half-Orc's arm and tosses it by its owner's body.
06:11:22: kallista lays a hand on Feng's shoulder, standing on tip toe to do so, and a wave of healing washes over his body
06:13:12: <Feng> Bones pleasantly weave themselves back together. The rat's head falls out of its death-grip and the tooth marks become but shallow recesses. Blood dries and then finally disappears.
06:14:02: <StoryTeller> A few minutes later, the five of you are all gathered back over at the Belle and Bard. Bianca, after much hugging of friends and explanations, promptly shoves an extra serving of lamb stew and pints of mead at your faces, and ushers you off to bed (And no trying to give her gold :[) in a rush.
06:15:01: <StoryTeller> Presumably so she can organize the townspeople into the Inn to greet you when you all rise the next morning.
06:18:17: <StoryTeller> In the morning, you find the people of Irasque clustered together in the inn, awaiting your arrival. Standing at the front of the mob is Bianca, holding three small pouches.
06:20:11: <StoryTeller> "So. As gods would have it, we sent some of the boys down the rat tunnels, and found that they had almost burrowed straight into most of our cellars." Bianca pointed down to her own floor. "The winter must be driving them mad. We burned the nest and are gonna seal up those tunnels."
06:20:26: <StoryTeller> "But without you lot warning us, we'd all have probably ended up devoured in our beds."
06:23:11: <StoryTeller> "As thanks, travelers, we-" (And the looks from the crowd tell you all that Bianca had a very large part in motivating the "We" in this team to scrounge together) "have something for you all!" She hands each of you a pouch in turn. A look inside reveals 20 gold pieces and several loaves of freshly baked bread.
06:26:29: <Feng> For once, Feng looks sheepish. "Really, this is too much."
06:27:15: <Feng> "How could we ever repay you for the kindness that you've shown us?"
06:27:22: <Vraya> "The food I will take. The money is yours. If I did not agree to payment, there is little sense in claiming it."
06:27:58: <StoryTeller> "Up-bup-bup. None of that now, Mr. and Ms. We're simple folk here in Irasque. We give people what they're owed, and we don't let anyone take any less."
06:29:01: <StoryTeller> "If you're still sketchy, take that money and donate to some bigger city beggars or orphans. Y'all deserve that choice at least."
06:29:24: <StoryTeller> "Or if nothing else, it'll be another few nights at inns and another day's worth of food while you do good work."
06:29:45: <Feng> The sheepish look turns to confusion before Feng outright bursts out laughing "Aha! And with that bit of guilting, I believe we've reached checkmate!"
06:30:04: <StoryTeller> "Deary I was a /bard/"
06:30:21: Feng takes the pouch. "And a fine one at that."
06:30:21: <StoryTeller> "If I wanted to I could get you to hang from your ankles from the rafters."
06:31:25: kallista accepts the pouch, "While thanking you for the opportunity no doubt."
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