StarfallLake29

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Start of #starfalllake buffer: Sun Aug 21 03:10:51 2011
<[DM]> -------------------------------------------------------------------
<[DM]> Serrula holds a quick whispered negotiation with Yrite, then after some exchanges of nods, disappears  off with a clerk. Yrite himself resumes his accounting work. The party is for now, on their own.
<Slick> Slicks waves Alveri over. "Right, 'bout your portal thing..."
<Slick> "You remember those fey scripts we found in the smuggled shit? I'm thinkin' they might be able t' help you out on 'at once I've got 'em figured out."
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno sits around the room reading.
<Alveri> Alveri looks up at Slick, seeming a bit confused.  "Hm... I always imagined plane shifting to be a more clerical thing, have you been hiding a life of piety from us all along, Slick?" Alveri smirks slightly.
<Inari> Inari floats over, visibly interested, and nods. "You don't need clergy if you just have a portal. Do you need any help witht he books, Mistuh Slick?"
<Chiiruno> "His 'sermons' are rivetting you know." Chiiruno corrects Alveri.
<Slick> Slick shakes his head at Alveri, smirking. "Nah, nothin' like that. 'Sides, Planeshiftin's somethin' arcanists can do too."
<Chiiruno> "With enough power, anything can be done. Even altering reality as we know it." Chiiruno agrees
<Slick> To Inari, he frowns. "Actually, what I'd need is another bard. See, what's in those scripts are songs."
<Chiiruno> "Lyrical magical?" Chiiruno hovers closer.
<Inari> "Hmm... We could try to find a singing fey or something, I guess."
<Slick> "Well, would you trust a singin' fey to tell it to us straight?" Slick sounds skeptical.
<Slick> "Anyway." He takes out his portrait and begins unfurling it as he speaks. "Planeshiftin' works with a device kinda similar to a tuning fork."
<Alveri> "Well... Alright then," Alveri looks up at Slick a bit more seriously, "but I do believe those scripts are for reading only, not use.  I'm entrusting you with them on the assumption that you know better than to do something recklessly experimental with them."
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno clears her throat. "So...do you want me to have a go at a verse or two?"
<Slick> "Heh. You'd have to get me real drunk to fuck around with those things, and at that point I prolly couldn't read 'em anyway." He rummages through his portrait and withdraws a tuning fork of his own.
<Slick> To Chii, he shakes his head. "The fey part isn't actually the important bit I think. It's the music, and I'm thinkin' you don't have the trainin' for it. What I've decoded so far is pretty complex stuff."
<Chiiruno> "Right. No more bards around this town?"
<Slick> "Anyway. To planeshift, you gotta have a fork. Each one resonates with different planes." He thumps the one he'd drawn out to demonstrate.
<Inari> "None we'd want to trust with these things. This isn't stuff you just tell to a stranger."
<Alveri> "Maybe another bard will perform at the festival...? I mean, it wouldn't very well be a festival with just Slick..."
<Slick> "My guess is that these sheets are ways to get the same resonance with sound."
<Slick> "Haven't translated enough to be SURE of anythin' now, but I'm thinkin' once I get these figured out, I can either use 'em to activate dormant portals, or change th' destination a' existin' ones."
<Slick> "Prolly the first one."
<Inari> "The way I changed the river portal by casting spells into it, you mean?"
<Slick> Slick nods. "Kinda, yeah."
<Slick> Looking back to Alveri, he continues, "So. Yeah. Gonna need a lot more time to figure this shit out--it's mind bendin' shit--but at some point I might be able to get you a portal to The River with 'em."
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno shrugs. "So we need time to research more. What else is on the list of stuff we can do now?"
<Slick> "Well, at some point I need to get a few guys together for a temporary band. I can do a lot by myself, but to play a good set I'm gonna at least need a good drummer..."
<Alveri> Alveri smiles just slightly "Well... Thank you, Slick, I really appreciate it.  Looking forward to finishing this contract off."  She glances over to Chii, then back ahead.  "I'm sure Helen would appreciate it if we started planting and breeding those flower seeds we picked up in fey lands."
<Slick> Slick raises an eyebrow at that. "Oh?"
<Chiiruno> "That's part of the list of things to do yeah. We could plant them at the new medical wing at the brownies' inn."
<Inari> Inari gives  Chiiruno a cross look. "You don't plant exploding or poisonous plants near an inn, much less at a amedical wing."
<Slick> "What all'd you guys pick up?"
<Inari> "Let's see..." Inari rummages around in their packs to pick out the seeds.
<Chiiruno> "Some of them aren't explosive or poisonous though."
<Inari> "Two docen invisible acorns, a bad of crimson glory seeds, one of shadow lotus seeds, and one of sunfire blossom seeds."
<Inari> *dozen
<Inari> *bag
<Slick> "Huh... Interestin' selection there." He smirks.
<Slick> "So, what's the plan for 'em, hm? Pretty sure you can get arrested just for carryin' th' seeds for those in most cities."
<[DM]> In fact, going by what Slick knows of, Crimson Glory is illegal anywhere theres a population of more than 2 dozen people, without special licenses.
<Inari> Coughing, Inari slips the seeds back into her pockets. "Not so loud. Anyway..." She points out to the sea. "Alveri and I figured we could plant them at my place."
<Slick> Slick rolls his eyes. "Trust me, I been keepin' quiet 'bout substances that'll get you arrested for a lot longer 'n you."
<[DM]> While they talked, Serrula makes her way back, looking...polished.
<Slick> "Well, I ain't got any kind of green thumb, and I got somethin' else in mind for tonight..." He smirks.
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno smiles. "Looks like they took a shine to you."
<[DM]> Serrula just smiles enigmatically.
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno picks up a pebble and encases it in ice. "What else do we do after planting the seeds at Inari's island?"
<Alveri> Alveri gazes unamusedly over her  shoulder at Slick.  "Heading back to that inn, Slick? Or more to the point, back to the bath?"
<Inari> "We have a promise to keep with some brownies at an inn. Me and Alveri, anyway."
<Slick> Nodding in greeting to Serrula, Slick looks to the others. "If you guys are just goin' to be doin' some gardening, I think I'mma stay behind for tonight an' see if I can settle 'at other thing."
<Chiiruno> "I have a part of that promise to the brownies too. Besides, I've already used my favor to send materials. What's left is to go over and join in the work."
<Slick> "I'll catch you guys tomorrow, 'en."
<Inari> "You'll need the snake." As the group arrives at the lakeshore, Inari leads the way, floating over the water, and reluctantly acts as carrot on a stick to guide Dewdrop across the lake and towards her island.
<Alveri> "Alright, then.  Good luck and be safe, Slick."
<[DM]> ------------------------------------------------------------------
<[DM]> Inari, Serrula, Chii and Alveri set off across the waters on their giant snake and rabbit rides, while Slick makes his way to his personal business.
<[DM]> The lake waters are calm and warm, even in the cool of the evening. Dewdrop and the rabbits each snag some plump fish along the way, then a rough ring of reefs surrounding a small island comes into view. The island has a small rocky hillock and some grass, but thats about it as far as they can see.
<Inari> Inari floats straight towards her islands at first, before remembering that her companions are on a snake that probably wouldn't appreciate having to crawl over a bunch of reefs. "Hold on, there are reefs here..." She navigates them around the submerged rocks as best as she remembers them, having never really needed to worry about them.
<Alveri> Alveri frowns slightly. "Hm.... bit smaller than I imagined.... but then, I guess that makes sense.  Inari sized home."  She pets Dewdrop comfortingly as she follows Inari on her own, needing little input from Alveri to follow her nose.
<[DM]> Dewdrop balks in mild annoyance at first at the rocks, then obliges with following the halfling through the gaps. It took the most of half an hour to find a path wide enough for the snake. No wonder theres no wildlife on the island of note.
<[DM]> They make it to the nice sandy beach, Dewdrop relaxing immensely once the pointy rocks are no longer threatening to poke in every direction.
<Inari> Finally, Inari leads Dewdrop onto the shore of the island, mostly unwounded. "Well, here's my place."
<Chiiruno> "Nice." Chiiruno looks around.
<[DM]> The soil is nice and lush, save for the rocky outcrop. There, the raised stone feels slightly warm.
<Alveri> "Hm... Poor Dew." Alveri hops down and leads Dewdrop to coil up, then looks her over and soothes the couple of scrapes the giant snake acquired.
<Inari> Inari points at the rocky outcrop, then at the grass surrounding it. "We can sleep in there if it gets too late. Nice and safe from flying things trying to eat you, as well as the wind. The soil should work well for planting things, but we might need to plant some of the acorns to protect the other plants from the wind.
<Chiiruno> "Sounds good."
<Inari> Getting out the three bags of seeds, she frowns at the extra-tightly sealed one containing the crimson glory. "Especially these need to be wind-protected."
<Alveri> Done, she steps up to Inari and peers towards the cave.  "You expect me to crawl in? Hm... well, if need be, I guess." She bends down and runs her fingers over a patch of soft soil.  "Hm... This really will work well.  I'm sure a lot of nutrients from the reef worked their way into the soil."
<[DM]> Serrula finds a nice corner and plonks her tree down, then fades inside to nap further.
<Alveri> Lilly slowly hovers out from Alveri's hood, looking somewhat excitedly at the seed bags and the soil.
<Slick> Meanwhile on the mainland, Slick heads for an apothecary to pick up an Endure Elements potion--better for functioning in hot water--and then spends a few hours randomly bar-hopping until it's late.
<Slick> He then heads to the hot springs, carrying the potion, a few joints, and the crystal he was given earlier. He listens for the sounds of other people in the springs.
<Inari> "Let's see, now..." Floating around the rim of the island, Inari plants the invisible acorns in a loose ring around the whole thing, randomizing the spacing somewhat and carefully remembering the position of each one.
<[DM]> While the skies darken, Slick finds that Starreach has a fairly thriving nightlife, with business going on late into the night. As the moon peaks, the streets begin to empty out, leaving only the more hardworking merchants and what looks like a few footpads stalking for prey.
<[DM]> The hot springs seem empty enough, though as Slick approaches, the crystal he has from earlier chimes softly. "Oh hi!"
<Alveri> Lilly follows Inari around, helping the first few acorns out with an early sprout but quickly tiring, hanging and panting a bit as she floats on after Inari.  "Hm...." Alveri steps up and scoops Lilly into her hands, lifting her up before ruffling her hair a bit.  "Lilly.  I have a very important contract for you..."
<Slick> He looks into the crystal and speaks to it. "Hey. Howzit goin'?"
<[DM]> Lilly looks at Alveri quizzically, evidently having a lot of fun with the planting work.
<[DM]> The crystal burbles with liquid laughter, "You might want to go in from the ladies baths. The other two are occupied. Shhhh."
<Alveri> Alveri grins slightly.  "It might be a very long one and will be full of peril and adventure... but I need to know before hand if you're up for such a task."
<Slick> Slick raises an eyebrow at that. "Alright then... You gonna have problems seein' me if I'm invisible?"
<Inari> After the acorns are planted, Inari once again paces around the island in the opposite direction, looking out to the see and to the center of the island and memorizing the position of each carefully. It would be pretty embarassing if she were to run into her own island's invisible defenses.
<[DM]> "<Sylvan>Task? Flowers?! </Sylvan>" Lilly spins around an invisible sapling.
<[DM]> "<Sylvan>Tsk, I can see you just fine in the water silly</Sylvan>."
<Slick> Respond in Sylvan, he shrugs. "Juuuust makin' sure." He chants a quick invisibility spell and heads for the women's bath quietly.
<Inari> Looking bemused at Alveri and her pet fairy, Inari smirks and packs out the shadow lotus seeds, the least dangerous, looking for a good spot to plant them.
<[DM]> Inside he sees the same familiar ripple in the water, waiting for him. Some splashing can be heard from the mixed baths. Sounds like some new adventurers in town.
<Alveri> "Ah, um.... yes.... yes, it is about the flowers." Alveri frowns slightly, caught by the little fairy.  But then, it was her familiar.... "I would like it very much if you would stay here and nurture these plants to good health.  Even protect them with your life, if need be.  Okay no, not that... much, aha.  Just trying to make it sound more interesting than sitting on an island watching plants."
<Inari> She brings a palm up to meet her face as she remembers that duh, lotus grows in water, and heads inside the island.
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno flies around noting the position of the seeds as well.
<[DM]> Alveri sees Lilly literally light up and buzz around, "<Sylvan>Only me?</Sylvan>"
<Slick> Figuring a quick Prestidigitation would spare his clothing later, Slick downs the potion and steps into the water.
<Inari> Inside, Inari plants the seeds strategically around the many little ponds of rainwater, plus some, not too many, in the largest one that she uses for a bath.
<[DM]> Once his invisible ripples appear, the blur in the water reveals the face of the Nymph from before. She makes a shushing motion and then dives into the deep end of the bath.
<Slick> Slick nods and follows, though clearly not as strong a swimmer as the nymph.
<Alveri> Alveri frowns slightly once more.  "Mm.  There will be fish around and um... oh, flowers will of course keep you company! And the trees... and the sun... and the breeze."
<[DM]> While it gets alarmingly deep and hot, Slick soon finds himself where four tunnels converge and go deeper down. Hot water billows up from the tunnel below, above, he can see the Nymph waving from up one, and hear indistinct noises from the other two.
<Slick> Not wanting to press his luck, he follows the nymph's instructions, holding his breath as well as he can manage.
<[DM]> Lilly pats the newly planted oak, "<Sylvan>Sure!</Sylvan>" Her glow dims, "<Sylvan>Be back?</Sylvan>"
<Inari> Heading back out, she starts planting the sunfire seeds at more or less random spots on the island, though well away fromt he rocky outcropping. There's no lack of sunny places on the island, but... Catching Alveri's attention, Inari points at the freshly-planted seeds. "Tell her to make sure the sunfire flowers don't burnt he whole place to ashes, too. No mature seed pods on the island."
<[DM]> Just as his lungs almost give out, Slick pops into an air pocket, to see the Nymph giggling at his predicament. She comments in accented, but understandable Common, "Like a fish in air!"
<Slick> Breathing deeply, he gives a weak laugh. "Yeah, kind of!"
<[DM]> The air pocket turns out to be a room, sparse of furnishings, other than some carved rock and fungus cushions. An easel stands in a corner, while glowing moss provide dim, if usable light.
<[DM]> Looks like where she does her art. Paint would wash off below after all.
<Inari> "Now..." Again, Inari frowns at the bag of crimson glory seeds, and enlists Alveri's help in creating a wind shelter around a small bed for the future flowers, to prevent any of them from being blown either toward the rocky hill in the middle of the lake or out to the lake.
<Slick> Through catching his breath, he looks around the room. "Nice place."
<Alveri> Alveri softens up and smiles a bit.  "Of course I'll be back.  One day we will adventure together once more, but for now the Goddess has other plans."  Alveri looks to Inari and nods, reassuring her fears about the sunfire flowers before helping her out.
<[DM]> Inari finds a good spot behind the cave mouth, the hill acts as a sort of wind break, and theres a natural depression in the dirt. Granted, she wouldn't want to be downwind of the island even so..
<[DM]> The Nymph sits in the water, "Nobody comes in here." She pouts, "People scream and run out naked when I pop from the water."
<Inari> "Okay, this place should work." Inari rummages through the stuff they have packed on Dewdrop, packing out the broken glider parts, a wyvern wing or two, and anything else that could work for additional shelter against the wind.
<Slick> Slick quietly chants a spell to dry his clothing out a bit, make it a little less heavy. If his invisibility spell is still active, he dismisses it. "Well, y' just gotta find th' right people, eh? Most of us don't like bein' interrupted in the bath." He shrugs.
<[DM]> Inari soon cordons off the depression adequately, Not much should leak out, and well...it'd keep intruders away from the island. Nobody's going to navigate through the reefs if they're getting a nice whiff of those though.
<[DM]> Lilly meanwhile brightens at the news, then paws at the Crimson Glory seed pouch. Inari belatedly remembers the seeds themselves are toxic, best to let the fairy do it.
<Alveri> Alveri stakes the pieces of cloth and wyvern wing into the ground with... what look to be actual vampire stakes.  "That should hold it pretty well... Only the worst of storms would threaten it."
<Slick> He takes a look at the portrait the nymph is working on out of curiosity.
<Inari> "Alright." She's still nervous about the whole deal, but hands the pouch off to the fairy. This should be enough to keep, at the very least, the rest of the island safe, as well as the lake at large for the most part.
<Alveri> Alveri eyes the seed pouch.  "I... think we can trust her with that.   Let's not be too near when she gets started, though."
<[DM]> It's a nude. Of him. The Nymph shrugs, "I just want to show them their paintings. Boors. Hmph." She brightens up, "You like it? Name's <Sylvan>Lylinerisia Azure</Sylvan>"
<[DM]> Lilly pokes the seeds into the dirt with what looks like a sickle she acquired from somewhere while nobody was looking. "<Sylvan>Piw! Piw! Piw!</Sylvan>" Sparks of green sink into the ground and shoots poke out of the soil, forming fragile looking stems.
<Slick> Slick does his best not to chuckle at the portrait. Probably should've guessed at that. "It's good, yeah. And I'm Slick." He extends his hand to shake.
<[DM]> She grabs his hand in a warm wet grip, "Hi, Mister Slick."
<Slick> "Ah, no need for that 'mister' there." He smiles.
<[DM]> "Ooo, informals, I like." She lounges in the warm water, "Nothing to do here since that halfling talked me into letting him put an inn up above. Though some guests are...appreciative" She grins widely at Slick.
<Inari> While Lilly plants the seeds, Inari heads inside the cave, not wanting to be anywhere nearby. There, she gathers water to dilute the MiracleGro, both to make it less potent and to allow an easier time of spreading it across the island.
<Alveri> Alveri brings her scarf up over her nose and mouth as soon as she sees the fairy excitedly rip open the waxed and wired bag.  "Um... Maybe.... maybe shouldn't have trusted her with those, but anyway..." Alveri steps towards the cave and kneels down infront of it. "Hm..." she hesitates before crawling/oddly hobbling in.
<[DM]> Alveri
<[DM]> Alveri's reactions are somewhat exaggerated, she only needs to stoop slightly to get inside, and it's much higher on the inside.
<[DM]> Outside, Lilly is going "Piw Piw" at pretty much every seed or sapling.
<Inari> After diluting the fertilizer into a large bottle, Inari peers back at the entrance, then looks to Alveri. "...Go check if she's done yet."
<Alveri> Alveri looks around the place in wonder, admiring all the dimly lit little pools.  "Lot bigger than I thought it would be.... Hm-- Oh? Okay, then." She tightens her scarf up and steps back out.
<Slick> Slick returns the grin. "Mmm, sounds rough." He moves closer to her. "Maybe there's somethin' I can do to... help out?"
<[DM]> Lilly is indeed done with the Crimson Glory and had moved on to the oaks. She probably needs a wash though, given that her hands are all sticky from the Crimson Glory. Probably not in water meant for drinking.
<[DM]> Lylinerisia gives Slick a wink, "Didn't think you need any suggestions. Do you?" Her look is...as straightforward as it gets.
<Alveri> Alveri quickly backsteps as Lilly sees her and zooms up at her.  "Ah, careful! You still have that stuff all over your hands... Such a potent smell! Go wash up in the lake."
<Slick> "Heh. Y'know, I guess I don't."
<Inari> "Well... looks safe. More or less. As safe as it's going to get." Inari watches as the fairy goes to wash herself in the lake, and then shows her the bottle of diluted MiracleGro. "Alright, now we put this on the plants, then we're done here."
<[DM]> "<Sylvan>Awww....<Sylvan>" Lilly dunks herself in the lake water. Alveri could see some small fish bob up to the surface. Yeah, definitely not safe to touch.
<[DM]> She hovers out of the water, shaking herself dry, "<Sylvan>Clean!</Sylvan>"
<[DM]> Meanwhile Chii is providing some nice cool air in the warm summer night.
<Inari> Giving the dead fish a disturbed stare, Inari moves to sprinkle the fertilizer ont he plants - the acrons get the most, and the crimson glory the least.
<Inari> *acorns
<[DM]> Not quite as potent as the raw fertilizer, the plants visibly take up greater vigor. The Crimson Glory actually puts out tiny pink buds, while feeling around, the saplings have started putting out leaves. How invisible leaves work, however, is beyond Inari.
<[DM]> Lilly is sitting on the grass, resting while watching grass grow. Under her gaze, they do grow rather quickly.
<Alveri> Alveri wades into the water  and starts collecting up the fish using the point of her scythe.  A minute later, she comes ashore with sleeves full of fish.  "Oof.... what to do with these...."
<Inari> Inari stares at the fish. "...Best to burn them."
<Alveri> "Ah, good idea." Alveri doesn't give it much thought as she heads off towards the shore to start a fire, having pulled some material off of Dewdrop along the way.
<[DM]> The fish actually start smelling rather delicious as they char.
<Alveri> Soon enough Alveri has a raging blaze going among the rocks.  She dumps the fish directly into the fire, then stands solemly beside the blaze, gazing down into it.  "What is there to be said of the death of little fish.... Poor little sparkly, he was such a good swimmer."
<Inari> As the fish burn and Alveri gives her improvised funeral speech, Inari sits down next to the fire, careful not to breathe in any fumes just in case, and starts roasting marshmallows under the starry sky.
<[DM]> The fumes mostly smell fishy, then delicious, then of burning fish. Good to know the poison degenerates in fire.
<[DM]> Lilly meanwhile, having finished vitalizing every plant on the island, is spreadeagled on the grass, snoozing.
<Alveri> As the flames grow higher and higher, Alveri's shadow slowly sparks back to life with a big stretch and a yawn then seems to immediatly fall back to sleep, laying atop one of the rocks.  Surrealism +10.
<Slick> Elsewhere, in a less surreal situation, Slick chants a spell to dry one of the joints he brought with him and lights it. "You want one?"
<[DM]> Lylinerisia waves away the joint lightly, "No thanks, can't abide fire near my face."
<Slick> Slick shrugs. "Arright. If it's a problem I can put it out."
<Inari> Looking up at the sky, Inari notes, "It's getting pretty late... should we head back or just sleep here?"
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno gets up from her meal. "If we're sleeping here. I'll take first watch."
<[DM]> She sniffs the smoke, "Its fine, just you know. Fire and water."
<Slick> Slick nods. "Yeah, makes sense." Looking to the enclosed chambers, he adds, "Prolly a good spot for hotboxin', actually." He takes a deep hit.
<Alveri> "Hm... Are we heading back to land or staying in the cave?" Alveri looks to Inari.
<[DM]> "Oh theres a hole somewhere up there," She waves at the ceiling vaguely. "Want to see my other art?"
<Slick> He looks up at that. "Ah. Shame. And sure, I'll take a look." He smirks.
<Alveri> DELETE LAST :<
<Slick> "Been so long with warriors an' religious types... Nice to get with another artist."
<Alveri> "I think I'll leave that up to you.  It's your place, afterall. I have little preference for sleeping arrangements." Alveri pours some water on the fire, putting it out most of the way.
<[DM]> Lylinerisia rolls out sheets of lacquered parchment, they are rather finely detailed nude depictions of what Slick guessed were the hot spring guests. Including the entire party.
<[DM]> "The innkeeper buys some, but only of the rich halflings. Nobody wants the adventurers so..."
<Inari> Inari shrugs as well. "Okay, then. Here it is. There should be some blankets stashed in the caves. There's either naked rock or the grass outside for sleeping places."
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno creates a bed of ice and takes a seat on it, assuming first watch.
<Slick> Slick chuckles at that. "Kind of a shame. I'd say the adventurers tend to be better lookin'." He doesn't seem as bashful about looking at the portraits as he did the scrying pools.
<Slick> "Man, these are really good..."
<[DM]> "I'm thinking of sneaking up to the inn and posting them all over, but the boss man said it'd mean no more customers." She starts on another sketch, "Then it'd be reeeeally boring."
<Slick> Coming to one particularly unappealing one, Slick winces. "Geez. You gotta deal with that a lot?"
<Alveri> "Well, good night, then."  Alveri steps down into the cave, rolling out her portrait and taking out a small sleep sack.  Andsomethingindiscernableinthedarkness. |< She tucks herself in.
<[DM]> "You should see the merchants." She mimes someone of very little height and enormous girth.
<Inari> Inari herself withdraws deep into the darkness of the cave, floating an inch above the ground an curling up under a simple blanket. Air is the best matress, after all.
<Slick> "Mmph." He takes another long hit, holding his breath for a while to let it sink in before releasing on a chuckle. "D'ya know what th' innkeeper's usin' 'em for?"
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno takes out her weapon and polishes it. And begins to randomly create ice cubes and dropping them around silently as she assumes her watch.
<[DM]> She shrugs, "Mortals, eh, who knows. His grandfather just bought the male halfling portraits for his room. His mother bought lots of elf adventurers."
<Slick> Weed starting to do its thing, Slick gives a low laugh. "Haaa, y'know, 's prolly blackmail. Most of us mortals don't like it when people we don' know see us naked. Be hella embarassin' for 'ose fat ones what get bought..."
<[DM]> "Maybe I should make them even fatter?" She inhales the smoke, then giggles.
<Slick> "Haaa, nah, you wanna REALLY embarass 'em, you make 'eir dicks smaller. Though, halfings, riiigh'? Might be hard t' pull off." He snickers.
<[DM]> Slick can start to make out what shes sketching now, its their...performance earlier. "Oh, some of them are.."She pantomimes something absurdly large. "You never know, especially the gnomes."
<Slick> Slick doesn't seem to mind the sketch, taking another small drag and exhaling a smoke ring. "Yeah, I've heard. Been with a gnome lady a time or two. Never woulda guessed they'd be so fiery in bed."
<[DM]> "I'm going to frame this one!" She waves at the one shes doing. Slick and Lylinerisia go on late in the night, making a great deal of observations on the mating habits of merchants and adventurers.
<[DM]> --------------------------------------------------------------------
<[DM]> Dawn arrives. Over on the island, the adventurers are awoken by Lilly playing with the flowers. Slick meanwhile, is nudged awake by Lylinerisia.
<Slick> "Mmm. Morning." He sits up and stretches. "Or... is it? Hard to tell in here."
<Inari> Yawning, Inari checks on the crimson glory flowers, careful not to come too close, then on the other plants.
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno wakes up with a yawn, there's plenty of water running out of this little cave from all the accumulated melting ice blocks.
<[DM]> The Nymph is swimming backwards in the water, "Oh, its morning, some people are going in the baths. Want to pop up and scare them? Theres an elf couple in the mixed baths doing some things."
<Alveri> Alveri sits atop the hill, having relieved Chiiruno of watch duty mid night and then decided to stay on rather than wake Inari.  "Morniiiiing...." Alveri yawns and stretches in motions that seem peculiarly just like Puchi's from last night.
<[DM]> The flowers are doing very well, the Crimson Glory for one, have buds that are already starting to spread open. A pink tinted morning mist clings close to the delicate bloooms.
<Slick> Slick smirks at that. "Funny maybe, but it's kinda mean to intrude on folks doin' their thing, yeah?"
<[DM]> "Aww."
<[DM]> "Not even a little?"
<[DM]> "Hmph. How about a nice song before you leave then? Some instruments, if you have them here." She grins devilishly.
<Slick> He quirks an eyebrow at that. "You're gonna make echo in the baths like before, right?" He smirks.
<[DM]> "Oh just watch."
<Slick> He thinks on that for a moment, then shrugs. "Eh. Why the hell not." He finds his pants and digs around for his portrait."
<Slick> REMOVE LAST "
<Slick> Eventually he pulls out his tenor saxophone. "Gimme a minute to tune a bit?"
<Slick> He plays a few soft scales, making small adjustments to the mouthpiece until he's satisfied. Nodding to indicate that he's done, he starts playing a soulful, echo-y tune.
<Slick> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXr3AapNcOw
<[DM]> She nods along, then taps a silver disc, which shows the bath where two elves were going at it enthusiastically in the early morning. Then as Slick plays, she sings an acompaniment in a pure soprano, and out of the bath, mists and music pour out from the deep end.
<[DM]> The mists thin to reveal a stage, complete with backup dancers, as a performance rocks off in the center of the stage, playing to the tune of Slick's music and a long haired beauty singing in the middle. The elves stop halfway, completely stunned.
<[DM]> The dancers march out across the bath, spinning and twirling around the stunned couple as the faceless singer goes on soulfully.
<[DM]> Then they all backflip into the water and were no more.
<[DM]> The music retreats, fading slowly until only their private chamber was still echoing.
<[DM]> The elf couple...well, they got quite a look on their faces.
<[DM]> They're still standing there stock still. Halfway through their business.
<[DM]> Lylinerisia bows dramatically to Slick.
<Slick> Still not quite down from the previous night's high, Slick can't help but laugh. "I'mma feel like an ass about this later, but it was worth it."
<[DM]> On 'screen' the pair resume what they were doing. Adventurers were hard to phase. For long anyway.
<[DM]> With a flicker, the display fades.
<Slick> "That was awesome. You're quite a singer too, huh...?"
<[DM]> "What ELSE do I do while sitting in a bath all day?"
<[DM]> "The boss likes it when I mess with the folks 'misbehaving' in the bath. Says it perks his morning right up when he sees their faces."
<Slick> "Good point." He cups his chin. "Actually, I've got a concert coming up 'fore long. I could use a female vocalist, ya dig? Feel like comin' out of th' springs for a bit sometime?"
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<[DM]> "Hmmm, how far?" She plays with the water idly, "I can't leave this for very long you know."
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<Slick> Slick nods. "Yeah, I'm aware. It ain't far, just at the foot of th' Spire."
<[DM]> "Ooo!" She applauds, "Um..."
<[DM]> "I don't think I have an outfit."
<Slick> Slick blinks at that. "Oh. Right. Hm. Well, we got a few days. Maybe head into town and pick you up somethin'? You can keep an illusion up long enough for that, right?"
<[DM]> "Oh alright. Deal." She grins, "Well, I'm perfectly fine. Those mortals are so excitable when they see a naked female though, you'd think they've never seen one before."
<Slick> He chuckles at that. "Weeeeell, some of 'em maybe haven't."
<Slick> "Anyway, we can handle 'at later I think. I got some friend's waitin' on me, an' I think I'm holdin' 'em up."
<[DM]> "Oh sure, if you want to find me." She taps the crystal he had from earlier. "I know where you are!"
<Slick> Slick nods and gathers up his clothing. "Well Lylinerisia, it's been a pleasure meeting you. I'll be back sometime soon, arright? We got another week or two 'fore the concert anyway."
<[DM]> She smiles, "Well, which bath do you want to leave from? The elves earlier are still at it. Theres some gnomes in the ladies and this big half ogre with an enormous...ahem, and his orc buddies in the mens."
<Slick> "Prolly easiest to come out of the mixed baths at this point. Those two are least likely to flip out, I would guess."
<[DM]> "Alright, grab my hand then." She holds out a hand.
<Slick> Dressed up and ready to go, he complies.
<[DM]> She dives into the water, and Slick feels a strong steady pull as the water grows uncomfortably hot, then swiftly grows to a merely rather warm state as he breaches the surface right before the two elves, facing their second interruption of the day.
<Slick> Gasping for breath for a moment, he looks around, feigning confusions. "Huuuh. So THAT'S where that goes!"
<Slick> Spotting the elves, he blink. "Oh. Uh, sorry." He puts his hat between his eyes and them, then trudges out of the baths nonchalantly, chanting a spell to try his clothes.
<[DM]> The elves pause, startled, and Slick is out of the baths before they recover. He hears the girl mention in a wondering tone, "Maybe theres a portal down there dear."
<[DM]> --------------------------------------------------------------------
<[DM]> It doesn't take very long for Slick to find the island Inari mentioned, where they seem to be having quite a good time. The rabbit makes better speed than Dewdrop, paddling vigorously and crossing the reef by dint of hopping from rock to rock with a jolt each time.
<Slick> As he approaches the shore, he dismounts from the rabbit and waves. "Hey guys, howzit--" he then obliviously walks over one of the invisible oaks and faceplants.
<Alveri> Alveri grins and giggles slightly as she watches Slick coming, riding the giant bunny.  "Hiyo Slick-- Oh dear.... That poor tree!" Lilly zaps over and starts straightening the thing back up, Alveri watching her... ignoring Slick entirely.
<Slick> Getting back to his feet, Slick grumbles, "Yeah, okay, I'm fine, it's okay."
<Inari> Inari comes floating. "Did anything happen to the tree?"
<Chiiruno> Chiiruno passes an ice cube to Slick. "For whatever bruises you have."
<Slick> He sighs and waves it away, apparently uninjured. "I see you guys got busy around here last night." He looks to all the highly dangerous plants growing on the island.
<Alveri> Alveri stands herself back up, turning and looking up to Slick.  "Mm. Mostly Inari and Lilly, though.  What've you been up to?"
<[DM]> Lilly points excitedly at the Crimson Glories, twittering some nonsense about their beauty.
<Slick> "Mmm. Just met up with a lady friend. Vaguely making some plans 'bout the concert."
<Slick> "Still need to find a drummer..."
<Alveri> Alveri brings her hand up, ruffling Lilly's hair with two fingers.  "Yes, yes, Mr. Slick is very impressed.  Mm.  Go run along now."  She softly shoves the noisy fairy away.
*** Chiiruno has quit IRC: Quit: http://www.fantasysquare.com » Final Fantasy Script Version 2.7 by Mystical
<[DM]> Lilly buzzes off to busy herself with the shadow lotus.
<Alveri> "So you returned to the inn, then?" Alveri looks up at Slick curiously, tilting her head her usual way.
<Slick> Slick nods.
<Alveri> "Hm..." Alveri smiles rather fakely, "So who is she?" She tries her best to sound care free but it's fairly obvious that the mechanical gears of her investigative mind are grinding away just below the surface.
<Slick> He stretches. "Name's Lylinerisia. Basically, bored nymph living in the hot springs. Turns out she's a hell of a singer too."
<Slick> "So anyway. We got a plan 'r anything, ladies?"
<Inari> Inari shakes her head, smiling. "Not really. I guess we wake the sleepyheads and check out that festival?"
<Alveri> Alveri quirks her eyebrow a bit at the mention of 'nymph,' but then merely lets out a sigh of relief.  "Not in particular... Seems we're done here for a bit, Lilly will be staying and taking care of everything.  We're free to do whatever.  Need help with organizing the festival or is that mostly Yrite?"
<Slick> "I think that's Yrite's deal, but I -am- still lookin' for a drummer at least. Maybe a fourth if we find someone. Also, Lylinerisia might could use some help getting a dress."
<Slick> "Nymphs don't typically worry much with cloths, ya dig?"
<Alveri> "Mm... I suppose I could help, but I tend to avoid that kind of fey.  No idea about the drummer..."
<Slick> Slick shrugs. "I know some folks, I can prolly dredge up a decent drummer in a day or two. As for Lylinerisia, well, worst case scenario I bet she can figure somethin' out on her own. Or maybe Serrula can help? She still sleepin'?"
<Inari> "Still napping, yeah," Inari replies, nodding to the dryad's tree. "I can help drumming up your drummer, if you want."
<Slick> Slick nods to that. "Might be helpful, yeah." He looks around and notices Chii's missing. "Chii sleeping too?"
<[DM]> Slick can think of one Arvin Thunderpole, a human drummer of some repute, he should be in Starreach at this time of year.
<Slick> Putting his hands behind his head thoughtfully, he muses, "Hm. I think Arvin said he usually hangs around Starreach this time 'a year..."
<Slick> He glances to Inari. "Actually, I think he was an Uzier worshipper too. You ever hear 'bout a guy called Arvin Thunderpole?"
<Inari> Inari tilts her head. "A drummer named Arvin? There was something like that..."
<[DM]> Inari does know Arvin, he owes her a bit of a favor for some ghost busting a while back. Granted, the ghost was just an exceedingly ardent fan, but he didn't need to know that.
<Alveri> Alveri loads her stuff back onto Dewdrop, the snake refusing to uncoil herself in the cool morning air.  Doesn't stop Alveri from proding at iher to do so.
<Inari> "Aaah, I know! Mistuh Arvin owes me a favor, I exorcised a ghost from him a while back. Fan who died without hearing one more concert."
<[DM]> Dewdrop lazily stretches and makes a reptilian yawn.
<Slick> Slick chuckles at that. "Huh. Yeah, dude was easily good enough to get some spectral groupies."
<Slick> "I'm thinkin' he won't exactly need a lot of convincin'. We played a set or two together; pretty sure he'd be up for another one."
<Slick> "We can prolly figure out where he's crashin' lately with a bit a' askin' around. Wanna go pay him a visit, see if he's down?"
<Alveri> Alveri climbs onto Dewdrop.  "Shall we get going?" she suddenly startles as something invisible suddenly claws into her shoulder, but then lifts an arm and pets said invisible thingy.
<Inari> "Eh, I usually just go wherever feels right." Leaving Serrula rooted in the ground without disturbing her oddly long nap, Inari leads the way back out of the reef for Dewdrop.
<[DM]> -------------------------------------------------------------------
<[DM]> It doesn't take very long for the trio to make it back to Starreach, and passing the first tavern at the docks, hear a familiar drumming sound.
<Alveri> Alveri stops Dewdrop as soon as she hears the percussions.  "Well... that was easy."
<Slick> Slick raises an eyebrow at that. "No joke."
<Inari> Inari grins. "Like I said, wherever feels right."
<Slick> Slick shrugs. "Well, no need to overthink it." He dismounts and strides confidently into the tavern.
<[DM]> Inside, an enthralled audience is watching a burly human finishing off the last of his beats with a clashing sound. He basks in the applause, not yet noticing the new entrants.
<Slick> Slick joins in the applause, throwing in a high pitched whistle as well.
<Alveri> Alveri remains outside with Dew, not seeing anything sturdy enough for her to tie her reins to,  Doesn't stop her from peeking in a window, though.
<Inari> Inari, too, applauds enthusiastically, despite not having heard much of the performance.
<[DM]> Arvin packs up his drumsticks, using his now freed hands to grab a proffered beer. "Well boys, hows that? Arvin's back in town!"
<Slick> Slick moves toward the stage and waves. "Only caught the end of it, but that bit was kickass! Arvin, my man, how you doin'?"
<[DM]> "Oh  hey Slick! And the lil flying priestess!" He wades through the crowd to grab Slick and thump him on the back with a massive pat. "Hey boys, grab another beer for my buddy here!"
<[DM]> "And another for the flyin one!"
<Slick> Slick almost manages to not be sent flying forward from the pat, returning a much less potent one in kind, accepting the beer gratefully.
<[DM]> Stopping to chug a large gulp, he shakes Inari's hand vigorously, sending her bobbing up and down in the air.
<[DM]> "Ah, thats much better. What brings you both here at once?" He peers outside the window, "WOO, with a beauty to boot!"
<[DM]> He rushes out and gazes in unmitigated delight at the enormous serpent while the taverngoers gaze in some confusion, "Where'd you get er?"
<Slick> Slick takes a swig of his swill and laughs, following him out the door. "It's a loooooooong story, man. All of it."
<Alveri> Alveri looks at the giant man confusedly, tightening her hold on Dew's reins.
<[DM]> He takes another gulp, then rubs on the scales, "Never seen one this size before. New gig?"
<Slick> "As for the snake, prolly best to ask the lady there." He nods to Alveri. "She does most of the caretaking for it."
<Slick> "Actually, they had the snake when they found me." Looking to Alveri, he smiles and says, "Alveri, this is Arvin, th' guy I was talkin' 'bout earlier. Best drummer on the continent."
<Alveri> Alveri nibbles her lower lip as the unfamiliar man runs up and starts petting Dew.  She reaches down to soothe her, but she already seems alright with this random stranger.  Her training must be seaping through to the snake afterall.  She relaxes and turns around, looking down at the man from the giant Bulette skull.
<[DM]> "Ello lil lady! Nice ride!" He does sound to be rather drunk, "O'course. Wanna try seeing how big a crowd you can round up from here to them monks place? Pity last time the militia had to come out to pack it up when the two crowds met...."
<Alveri> "Nice to meet you, Arvin." She tips her hood ornament thingy a bit.
<Inari> Sipping her own beer, Inari shakes her head, muttering, "Humans..."
<[DM]> He takes the opportunity to play a quick piece on the Bulette skull, rapping noisily.
<Slick> "Heh, prolly best to save the hellraisin' for later man..." Slick's smile fades a bit; didn't realize how drunk he was.
<Slick> "Anyway, came lookin' for you 'cause I got a proposition for you."
<Alveri> Alveri's eyes suddenly sheen with a flash of anger, but she quickly calms and tries to nudge the man's arm away with her foot.  "Please don't harass the snake... She's kind of hungry as it is."
<Slick> "Old band totally imploded on itself: Tristram turned into a complete dick allovasudden."
<[DM]> "Oh? Then wait a second." He goes over to a barrel and dunks his head in, sobering a little "Ah, thats better. So whazzup Slick."
<Slick> "Came here lookin' to find a few gigs, an' on the way got mixed up in a little adventure 'at left me with a favor from a local bigwig. He's startin' arrangin' a high-class little festival, an' I'm gonna be providin' the music, ya dig?"
<[DM]> "Ooo, nice one. Been a while since we had a good party goin. New crew not cuttin it?"
<Slick> "Well, thing is, I don't have much of a crew yet." He nods to the others. "These guys are hella cool, but not really musicians. Already got a lady for female vocals. Figure I'd go straight to th' top for drummers, yeah?"
<[DM]> "Ya know the right stuff man." He pauses to spend a moment considering the party, "Then this here be one of them adventuring crews, bar wrasslin, fairy f-," He pauses with a glance at Inari," ah,  fightin!"
<Slick> Slick nods. "Yeah, like I said, got mixed up in one hell of an story before I got here. Some fairy fightin' went on, yeah." He pauses and smirks. "A bit of fairy 'fighting' too." He takes care to pronounce the quote marks. "I'll tell ya th' whole thing over a few drinks later."
<Alveri> Alveri's gaze remains cold, no more impressed with the man than when he was at the height of his drunken haze.  She simply turns back around and looks ahead.
<[DM]> "Cool. I'm in. "He looks up Dewdrop,  "Wanna see my beasties? Got a couple o new ones, one of them squiddys and a crocagator nearly her size."
<Slick> Slick nods. "Right on. I'll introduce you to the lady on vocals later. I bet you'll like her."
<[DM]> "Hot babe? Maybe I should bring Fluffy. Ladies like cats" Slick remembers Fluffy would probably be that panther.
<Slick> "Heh, not quite sure how that'd play out. But yeah, 'hot babe' is a good summation. You ever jammed with a nymph before?"
<[DM]> "Ooo, met one o those. afore. A russulkie or summat up in the mountains. Lady tried to freeze mah tushie off"
<[DM]> "She liked Fluffy though."
<Slick> "Huh, don't think I've heard that story. Still, Lylinerisia's from a hot spring."
<[DM]> "Nice. Well....I went up there to bag a wyvern, and then all 'is relatives up and jumped on me. Had to leave Bearnard behind. Pity."
<Slick> "Aw, man, hate to hear that. Bearnard was alright for a grizzly."
<[DM]> "Yeah well, got his sonny boy/. Bearnard Junior's growin nicely."
<Slick> "Well, I got one hell of a story for you. Gonna take a while. Wanna take it t' th' bar?"
<[DM]> "Sure"Arvin continues in this vein for a while, offering to show them his place.  He gets his drum set packed up into an extradimensional portrait while he blathers on, then continues at length all the way to the docks, where they could see a stableboy nervously looking after a horse sized crocodile.
<[DM]> "Well, you got a ride of your own, if you wanna see my place, just follow Bill while I go along."
<Slick> He looks to Inari and Alveri. "You ladies wanna come along, or you got other plans?"
<Inari> Looking up from her beer, Inari shakes her head. "Sure, I'll come."
<Alveri> Alveri glances over her shoulder, her eyes seeming asparkle.  "Um... Mm, I'd like to come see the animals."
<[DM]> "Alright then, follow the giant crocagator!" He flips the stableboy a golden coin for a tip, then hops aboard the crocodile as he sails off.
<Slick> Slick nods to that. "Onward, then."
<Alveri> Alveri's eyes widen as the giant gator charges on out and ahead.  "O-Onward!" she looks both confused and in awe.
<Inari> "Onward!" Having finished the mug of beer and now slightly red around the nose, Inari flies forward ahead of Dewdrop.
<[DM]> ----------------------------------END----------------------------
End of #starfalllake buffer: Sun Aug 21 03:10:51 2011