Rissada - Session 31.3

The party, after a short discussion with Athel von Armaneus LXIV, excuse themselves to research the person he's asking them to assassinate before committing themselves to the job. As Astrid wanders along, she spots Gespenst hanging back, talking to Arastalia, and a question comes to her mind.

Astrid: "What are you to talking about?"
Arastalia: "...And, on the left hand... er, paw, we can see... ah! Lady Astrid?"
Astrid: "Ah, sorry Ara. I was just curious what you were talking about...Gespenst isn't the most sociable type normally."
Arastalia: "He isn't, but he heard about what I told you this morning."
Gespenst: "Forgive me, Mistress. I was... curious. The only fellow outsider I've spoken to has been Fenrir, and she and I have never precisely gotten along."
Astrid slaps Gespenst lightly on the arm.
Astrid: "Don't apologise, Gespenst. We're equals, remember...?"
Arastalia: "Ah, my apologies. I should have asked permission first."
Astrid: "About earlier, Ara...there's still something you don't want us to know, isn't there?"
Arastalia: "I-I don't know what you mean. 'Don't want you to know'?"
Astrid: "Sorry... I shouldn't pry, I'm just... curious about your nature."
Arastalia: "...about being an outsider, you mean."
Arastalia looks towards the ground, trying to avert her gaze.
Arastalia: "You think I was deceiving you. Pretending to be human when I... really wasn't?"
"And I lost your trust because of it. Am I mistaken?"
Astrid: "No, no! I just haven't come across stories of your... kind, often."
Astrid sighs, trying to change the topic.
Astrid: "A-Ara... what did you mean earlier, when you...smiled at me?"
Arastalia: "Ah... during our morning discussion?"
"About 'a life that sustains two'?"
Astrid nods slowly, looking away slightly.
Arastalia: "...let me ask you something, then."
"Ordinarily, a person would see it as referring to your connection with Sir Gespenst, granting him physical form in this world, and look no further into it."
"But you see it as something... different. It's because of you and Sir Pitch, isn't it?"
Astrid looks down at the floor quietly.
Arastalia: "...You have knowledge of basic alchemical resources. You're familiar with the popular woman's drink known as 'night tea'. Yet you have chosen not to brew it for yourself."
Astrid: "I-I..."
Arastalia: "I cannot tell your thoughts. I don't know what you plan."
Astrid nods at Arastalia solemnly.
Astrid: "I should buy some..."
Arastalia: "...Night tea is an interesting alchemical concoction, isn't it?"
"Yet if you make a careless mistake, and, say, replace the bitterroot in it with something like, say, mugwort..."
"You end up with a drink that has the opposite effect."
Astrid glances briefly at Pitch, who is walking ahead.
Astrid: "Yes, I-I'm familiar with it."
Astrid blushes.
Astrid: "Back when I was with Tere--"
"Nevermind."
"I... feel so irresponsible. I didn't even realise, until you mentioned it."
"I should make a brief visit to Laria, if I can this evening."
"She should... have all the ingredients for the tea."
Arastalia: "Ah? Night tea is popular due to how readily available the ingredients are."
"I'm sure you could find what you need for it from a quick jaunt outside."
Astrid: "I know... I just find it slightly embarrassing."
"But you're right."
Arastalia: "I can accompany you if you would like."
Astrid: "Of course, that would be nice."
Arastalia smiles.
Astrid nods to Arastalia, trying to catch up with Pitch.
Astrid: "Pitch?"
Pitch: "Ah, hey, Astrid!"
Astrid: "Ara and I need to run some errands quickly. We'll be back later, okay?"
Pitch: "Oh, where to?"
Astrid: "Just the market... we'll be fine, don't worry."
Pitch: "Any chance I can tag along?"
Astrid: "You need to take care of Melodi, it's going to take some time for her to recover..."
Pitch: "Well... okay."
Astrid: "Sorry, dear..."
Pitch pats Astrid's shoulder
Pitch: "Then off you go, then."
Astrid: "T-Take care."
Astrid hurries off with Arastalia and Gespenst up the another street, waving briefly to the party.

Astrid, Gespenst, and Arastalia make their way into the underground, and find their way outside through the back passage. On the way, they begin to hear something of a commotion.
Noble Gnome: "So don't just sit there and look pretty, go find out what the problem is!"
Tiefling Servant: "...As you wish, madam."
There seems to be a pair that have arrived via wagon, carrying a substantial amount of supplies.
Astrid eyes the pair curiously.
A scrabbling sound can be heard from their wagon.
Tiefling Servant: "I think if I..."
???: "(Blasted... th-thing... stuck...)"
Tiefling Servant pulls out a quarterstaff, trying to sweep underneath the wagon.
???: "(A-Ack! Bothersome...)"
Tiefling Servant: "Ah, here's the obstruction. Heave...ho!"
With a shove, the tiefling makes a shove with the staff, and a greenish... thing tumbles out from underneath the cart on the other side.
???: "Ack!"
Noble Gnome: "An imp of some kind? Well, kill it already!"
Tiefling Servant sighs, approaching the creature with his staff at the ready.
Frightened, the greenish figure scrambles away from the cart, hiding behind a rock to avoid imminent bludgeoning death.
Astrid: "What's going on here...?"
Arastalia: "It would appear to be an altercation."
Astrid approaches the noble gnome woman.
Astrid: "Is everything alright, Miss?"
???: "(Blasted... some... why would Master... don me...)"
Noble Gnome: "A pest caught onto our wagon from our recent trip, we're trying to deliver supplies from Broken Top but it's getting in the way."
Astrid nods, walking round the wagon cautiously.
Astrid: "Found the problem, Sir?"
Tiefling Servant: "Stand back, miss. I will deal with this infestation."
???: "(Where... put it... M-Master....)"
Arastalia: "If it can speak, it seems more intelligent than a common rat."
The greenish figure tries to make a break for it, leaving the safety of the rocks for the northern forest.
Gespenst: "Mistress, it's that... goblin from the caves."
Arastalia: "Wait. You know it?"
Silvertongue: "Ack! Get away, longshank!"
Silvertongue hisses at the tiefling servant, before scurrying towards the tree line.
Astrid: "...So it is. Should we get involved, Ara?"
Arastalia: "Ah... let's see... based on what master knows..."
Arastalia thinks a little, before firing off a spell that fires chains of ink, seeking to bind and lock Silvertongue. [Hold Person, DC 16]
[Silvertongue : Will Save: 6]
The goblin freezes in place, locked by the chains. A small, silvery rock falls out of its satchel, tumbling onto the ground.
Arastalia: "...Did it steal something from them...?"
Silvertongue: "Precious, no!"
Silvertongue tries to reach out for the rock, but it is just out of his reach.
Silvertongue: "Nn... just a little... further..."
Silvertongue averts his gaze to Arastalia, hissing.
Silvertongue: "N-Naughty... woman...! What are you... d-doing?"
Arastalia: "Oh, he doesn't like me."
"I guess maybe you can, Lady Astrid?"
Astrid: "...Alright."
Arastalia: "Or we can let the gnome and her servant handle things, I don't believe the goblin will be of much threat to them now."
Astrid sighs, walking up to the goblin reluctantly.
Astrid picks up the silvery rock, kneeling in front of the goblin.
Astrid: "...How did you get here, hmm?"
Silvertongue continues to hiss, before suddenly pausing as his red eyes widen.
Silvertongue: "M-M... M-Master's friend!"
"Master's friend! You're here!
Silvertongue tries to reach out for Astrid, but is hindered by Arastalia's spell.
Arastalia: "...So you know him? And he knows you?"
Astrid moves backwards, turning back to Arastalia, the rock still in her hand.
Astrid: "He... we met him back in Dubrovish."
"The others seem to know him better... but..."
Astrid turns back to the goblin, tilting her head.
Tiefling Servant: "Miss, it isn't safe. I will dispatch this creature for you."
Astrid raises a hand to the side.
Astrid: "Hang on a second."
"...How in the seventh plane did you get here, imp?"
Silvertongue: "Silv--I was looking for the nice man!"
Astrid raises an eyebrow.
Astrid: "...'Nice man'?"
Arastalia: "Perhaps..."
"Ah! Yes."
Arastalia addresses the tiefling servant.
Arastalia: "You and your mistress may attend to your own business. We will handle this creature, and if we find he stole any possessions, we will return it to you."
Tiefling Servant: "As you wish."
Astrid: "Our... apologies."
Noble Gnome: "Come along, Sebastian, let's start getting to unloading."
The servant wanders off, beginning to leave Astrid and the others alone.
Astrid gestures to Gespenst to approach.
Astrid: "Tch. Should we let him go, Ara?"
"I don't know this imp, and frankly don't trust him, either."
Arastalia approaches Silvertongue, and ties ropes around his legs and arms before dismissing the imprisoning spell.
Silvertongue: "M-Master's friend so c-cruel...!"
Astrid: "Hmm."
"Should we... bring him back to the guild?"
"It seems cruel to abandon him a second time... but unwise to take him in, too."
"Hey, imp. Who's this 'nice man' you're talking about?"
Silvertongue: "Nice man was wearing...ah! A hood! Yes, a hood!"
Silvertongue wriggles on the ground, trying to reach out at Astrid's hand with little success.
Arastalia: "I don't think he will know who the 'nice man' is by name."
"...But there is a way."
Silvertongue: "M-Master's friend, will you give me... the t-treasure... please?"
Astrid ignores Silvertongue, glancing at Arastalia.
Arastalia: "Little goblin, would you like your fortune told?"
Astrid: "Ah, there i--"
"Hmmhmm, I see."
Arastalia: "We'll accept... the shiny rock as payment."
Silvertongue: "Fortune? Silvertongue not... know what fortune is."
"I want treasure, not 'fortune'."
Arastalia: "It's where I tell you what your future is, and what kind of pretty girl goblin you might meet in the future."
Silvertongue: "P-Pretty?"
Arastalia: "Or I could look up a future where you find some great wealth, and lead you down the steps to achieve it?"
Silvertongue: "B-But, how will Sil--I know which one? There are so many pretty ladies above ground..."
Arastalia: "Well, if you don't have your fortune told, you may never know which one."
Astrid smirks, trying to hold back a grin.
Silvertongue: "Nn..."
Arastalia: "Is a single rock really worth giving all that up?"
Silvertongue flicks his eyes between the silvery rock and Arastalia for a few moments.
Silvertongue: "Silvertongue... supposes not..."
"Silvert--I... a-accept, I... suppose."
Arastalia: "Alright then~"
Arastalia takes one of the goblin's still-bound hands and traces a finger across its lines.
Silvertongue: "A-A... ahaha! T-Tickles, stop!"
Arastalia: "But if I stop, I can't tell your fortune. Are you sure?"
Silvertongue: "I-I'll try..."
Arastalia: "Let's see..."
"Life in the goblin caves, but caved in the goblin life..."
"You didn't like the fate that was handed to you, so you wanted another."
"And this led you to wander off, where you ran into a man in black that taught you of a life outside the caves."
Silvertongue giggles a little, struggling to pay attention to Arastalia's fortune.
Silvertongue: "Yes, ye--heehee... g-go on--heehee"
Arastalia: "You encountered Master and his group, helped fight some kobolds, and fed a woman some mold..."
"You were led outside, told to find your own way, and ended up sneaking under and hitching rides from wagon to wagon to try to find where you belonged."
"Ah... we all struggle to find where we belong, don't we?"
Silvertongue: "Y-Yes! Heehee, how d-did, pretty lady... k-know? Heehee..."
Arastalia: "Because I'm a fortune teller, it's my business to know."
"Your future..."
Astrid scowls a little.
Arastalia: "Lady Astrid?"
Astrid: "No, no, it's nothing. Please go on."
Arastalia: "Luckily for you, little goblin, a pretty woman and shiny treasures lie down the same path."
Silvertongue: "R-Really? Really and truly?"
Arastalia: "In this very city lies a goblin lass for whom you are just her type."
Silvertongue: "Goblin l-lass... city?"
Silvertongue: "P-Pretty lady... heehee, what is--heehee, goblin lady's... n-name?"
Arastalia: "That, you will discover on your own. I don't want to ruin the moment when you two meet."
"But when you connect eyes with her, sparks will fly~"
Silvertongue widens his eyes, grinning.
Arastalia: "And she's rich, too, so you will have wealth and sparklies to tide your days."
Silvertongue: "Y-Yay! Heeheehee..."
Arastalia: "Now wasn't that worth this single rock?"
Silvertongue: "Y-Yes! Master's friend's friend so kind! Silvertongue very happy!"
"B-But, how will Silvertongue, know where to look?
"Does nice man know pretty goblin lady?"
Arastalia: "All you need to know is you need to be in the underground city, and be a nice goblin."
"There are some people who will give you jobs."
"Be a nice goblin and eventually you'll meet her."
Silvertongue: "R-Really and truly? Will Master's friend and Master's friend's friend show Silvertongue where pretty goblin is?"
Arastalia: "You just have to be a nice goblin and behave."
"I promise that as long as you are, things will happen as you wish."
Silvertongue nods enthusiastically, wriggling in his binds.
Arastalia undoes the binds, satisfied that the goblin won't cause much more trouble.
Silvertongue scurries up to Arastalia and Astrid, hugging both of their legs tightly.
Astrid: "H-Hey, let go!"
Arastalia: "A-ah!"
Gespenst: "...It appears the goblin has taken a liking to you, Mistress."
Silvertongue: "Master's friend's friend, where should Silvertongue go now, then?"
"W-Will you let me follow you?"
Arastalia: "Just come into the city."
"Do you have any talents? Working with metal? Organizing?"
Silvertongue grins, bringing out his violin from under his cape.
Silvertongue: "Silvertongue can play music, very pretty to ears!"
Arastalia: "Ah, there can be good money in a musician's talent."
"And it sounds like just the thing to woo the heart of a lady."
"I imagine you have your answer, then!"
Silvertongue grins delightedly.
Astrid sighs, trying to hold back a smile.
Astrid: "(And I just thought we were just making an errand...)"
Arastalia: "Just go apologize to those two for hitching a ride, and follow them into the city."
Silvertongue: "Y-Yes, Master's friend's friend!"
Arastalia: "Then you can play music and keep an eye out for pretty goblin girls."
Silvertongue hugs the pair again, before scurrying off to the gnome woman, his violin in tow.
Arastalia: "I hope he'll be alright."
Astrid: "As do I."
Arastalia: "He doesn't mean ill."
Astrid: "Mm, I agree... it's just in his nature to cause a little bit of trouble."
Arastalia: "...And before you start doubting me, I mean everything I said."
Astrid stretches slowly.
Astrid: "Of course, I believed every word, Ara. Now... we should gather the ingredients, the others will start wondering where we are."
Arastalia: "Oh, look, there's some mugwort~"
Arastalia smiles mischievously.
The two begin to harvest alchemical ingredients to make a good supply of night tea, before returning to meet with the others.