Shadow In The Sky: Marduk's Tavern: Session 1

[16:16] <Blitz-> -Marduk's Trans-dimensional Tavern-
[16:17] <Blitz-> Modified from the Magnificent Mansion spell, the wizard Marduk offers the services of his extradimensional dwelling to any and all adventurers in need of respite. Old and wealthy, he asks no fee for admittance, only that his guests enjoy themselves and don't wreck up the place.
[16:25] * Umie enters the tavern and sighs happily, relieved to be in a somewhat familiar place, a tavern, that is.
[16:25] <Umie> This short, young-looking woman has a small, though toned, frame and almost unnaturally beautiful, yet young, face. Her hair is short-cut and a pure white, while her eyes are a shade of red, contrasting with her pale skin.
[16:25] <Umie>  She wears leather armor under a dark red kimono along with leather, fingerless gloves on each hand. Her kimono is simple, with only a small, yellow floral pattern etched into one shoulder, and the kimono skirt stops short at her knees, giving her more freedom of movement.
[16:25] <Umie> Around her waist, she wears a belt with several sheaths, making no effort to hide the near-dozen knives on her person. As she walks forward, a pleasant, relaxed smile curls her lips, and most curiously, a red-orange fox tail bobs happily behind her.
[16:26] * Umie looks around for someplace to sit, perhaps by anyone somewhat interesting-looking.
[16:32] <Blitz-> The layout inside the Trans-Dimensional Tavern is like that of a simple tavern. A bar area with numerous open tables waited on by ghostly figures that were part of the spell. Plenty of food and drink was available, in just about any variety imaginable
[16:33] <Blitz-> Seated at one of the tables is an impeccably well dressed man with a wide brimmed, feather adorned hat pulled down over his face. His boots are particularly fashionable, polished to a shine. Buckles, straps and a stylish cravat compliment the outfit, while a well honed rapier and a hand crossbow are holstered on either side of his belt
[16:37] <Blitz-> Notably, a pair of tabby, furry, feline ears poke through the brim of the hat
[16:39] * Umie takes the first and closest mug that she sees, not really caring what is in it as she takes a small sip. She smiles to herself at the taste of the brew, making her way over to the fancy kitty! As she sits down and places her drink on the table, she waves her hand under the brim of the stranger's hat, greeting him excitedly, "Hello!"
[16:42] <Blitz-> The catfolk leans back, revealing a handsome, slightly shaggy tabby face. He flicks the brim of his hat up and gives a smirk, "Well hello there miss." A tail worms it;s way out from under him and wiggle in the air. He grasps his hat and gives a sweep across his chest, "Xanthan Theodric, at your service."  He claps his hands, summoning one of the ghostly servants who presents him with a saucer of cream.
[16:45] * Umie giggles and wiggles her own fox tail up, nodding her head in a polite bow. "Umie Ueshima, nice to meet you!"
[16:47] <Blitz-> Xanthan taken one of her hands in a paw and kisses it, "Charmed. And such exotic nomenclature. Where do you hail from?"
[16:49] * Umie smiles and blushes lightly as she retracts her hand. "Tian Xia," she giggles, "across the Inner Sea."
[16:50] <Blitz-> Xanthan nods, "Marvelous. So, with such fair skin, red eyes and white hair, I find myself curious. Are you an albino? I have met albino catfolk before, but never humans."
[16:54] * Umie shrugs. "Possibly. I'm honestly not sure, but... I don't really think I'm human either," she grins, "being that I'm..." she taps her chin and nods, "76 years old, by now."
[16:56] <Blitz-> Xanthan raises an eyebrow, "Well, you certainly don't look it. Of course, that's only old by the standards of some races. Elves, Dwarves, Gnomes and plenty of others live exceedingly long lives."
[16:57] <Blitz-> Xanthan lays back down to resume his catnap
[16:57] * Umie pouts, they were just talking! She sighs, muttering, "I guess I'll wait until he wakes up..."
[21:53] * Xanthan awakes from his catnap
[21:55] * Umie is actually sleeping now, her tail curled up around her side, and her head resting on her shoulder. She waited... for a while, and is snoring lightly in her sleep.
[21:57] * Xanthan smirks and gives her a pat on the shoulder, "So sorry madam," He motions for one of the serving phantoms to bring them a pair of drinks.
[22:00] * Umie wakes with a start, nearly falling over and out of her seat before she catches herself. She quickly leaps back onto her seat, blushing embarrassingly. She quickly composes herself and clears her throat. "Erhmm... It's alright. I was tired too."
[22:01] * Xanthan chuckles, "Fair enough. Nice tail, if you don't mind me saying." His voice is like a purr. "Perhaps not quite human?"
[22:03] * Umie blushes and chuckles. "Not quite, no... Not sure how though," she shrugs. "Neither of my parents had tails."
[22:04] * Xanthan ponders that a moment, "Perhaps a dormant bloodline awakened in you? Many creatures in this world of ours do so love to cross-breed. Sometimes it takes generations for something to reemerge."
[22:06] * Umie nods, pondering the thought. "Perhaps... though, I can't exactly verify anything, at least, not to my knowledge..."  She smirks. "What about you? I've told you a bit about myself, though I don't know too much about you, Xanthan."
[22:07] * Xanthan smirks, "I am, to my knowledge, simply one of the catfolk. A charming example I like to think, skilled in the play of both words and swords."
[22:10] * Umie hmm's. "Maybe we could spar sometime? Though, my preferred weapon is the kukri."
[22:11] * Xanthan raises an eyebrow, "The bent daggers of Tian Xia? A curious choice. Are you Tian?"
[22:12] * Umie giggles. "Well, I /did/ say I was from Tian Xia before, so naturally, I am Tian."
[22:14] * Xanthan blinks, "Ah, my apologies madam. I hail from Taldor myself, where in I honed my signature fencing style. While I admit it is based on an art of the humans of that nation, they are not so naturally graceful as we Catfolk, and adding that advantage in creates a style quite different."
[22:15] * Umie nods. "I'm sure." She sighs happily. "I've never been to Taldor... perhaps I will visit it. I've not been in Tian Xia for many years, actually. I've been travelling for quite a while."
[22:17] * Xanthan raises an eyebrow, "Oh? So where have your travels brought you now? Presumably to the same place as me, unless somehow the wizard who created this place can be in many places at once." He pauses a moment, "Actually, that is not so impossible as it might normally sound, given that he is indeed a wizard."
[22:20] * Umie shrugs. "Riddleport. The town is... interesting, being optimistic. Although, finding the source of the blot would be quite the feat..." she mumbles, mind wandering to the town's predicament.
[22:21] * Xanthan smirks, "Then it seems we are indeed from the same place. This blot however I have largely ignored, mostly because magic is beyond me in most ways. At best, I can quaff a potion or pay a spellcaster to enchant my blade, but ultimately I could not tell you how in any way, shape or form."
[22:24] <Umie> .me picks up her brew, taking a gulp. "Mhm... I couldn't either, still. I want to find out the cause, if just for my curiosity." She smiles, licking her lips at the good drink, taking another gulp and sighing contentedly.
[22:34] * Xanthan takes a sip of his liquored cream and smiles, "They say curiosity killed the cat. Naturally, this is wholly a misconception. I would perhaps be more curious if I thought I could understand. I am by no means a fool, but magic is simply elusive to me."
[22:35] <Xanthan> In the background, the mention of the blot has drawn the ear of a masked Elven woman, who listens in without stepping forward.
[22:37] * Umie calls over a second drink as she finishes her current, nodding to Xanthan. "I don't know much of magic either. A mystery to be solved another day." She smirks and giggles. "I don't have much else to do today, though, perhaps you'd like to play cards or dice?"
[22:37] * Xanthan smirks, "Sounds like a nice plan for an evening. Do you have a game of preference?"
[22:39] * Umie shrugs, pulling out a deck of cards. "Poker, blackjack, anything really!" She smiles, "as long as good company and drinks are involved as well.
[22:41] * Xanthan nods, "I can agree with that." He finishes off his cream and gets another saucer. He also orders a live mouse for a snack.
[22:45] * Umie smiles, laying out the cards for a game of blackjack, though, in a card order favoring herself.
[22:49] * Xanthan smirks and takes a peak at his cards.
[22:50] * Umie grins widely at her own cards, seeing as Xanthan hadn't noticed anything fishy!
[22:55] * Xanthan , after playing several games with Umie, concedes, "You are either ridiculously skilled, or insanely lucky."
[22:56] * Umie giggles and waves her hand nonchalantly. "I've had a lot of practice."
[22:58] * Xanthan sweeps his hat off and tips it to her, "Kudos to you then my new friend. A game well played."
[23:00] * Umie smiles and finishes off her second drink, having taken many sips during the blackjack session. She waves over a third, starting to feel slightly woozy... "Any 'ther ideas?"
[23:00] * Xanthan raises an eyebrow, "How many have you had thus far? You seem to be approaching your limit if your speech is impaired."
[23:02] * Umie waves a hand. "Only two... Just a lil' tipsy. I can handle more..."
[23:03] * Xanthan nods, "If you say so, but I hope you will also honour the interjection of a gentleman should you lost sight of what you can handle."
[23:06] * Umie nods and sips on her third drink, sighing contentedly as the bubbly feeling of warmth spreads through her.
[23:08] * Xanthan leans back, swallowing his mouse whole. He has not finished his second drink. "So, what brought you to the city of cyphers in the first place?"
[23:10] * Umie smiles as she finishes gulping down the drink, giggling and hiccuping. "See, told you a 'ould handle it." She shakes her head lightly, clearing her mind. "Well, travel, really. It has an open port, and I was once across the Inner sea. I wanted to explore the lands, and so this became one of my destinations. The blot 'aused me to stay, though..."
[23:14] * Xanthan looks curious, "Did the tremor or tidal wave damage your ship? Or the black hail perhaps?"
[23:15] * Umie shakes her head. "No, I arrived before those occurrences, thankfully. What about you? What brought you here?"
[23:16] * Xanthan smirks, "Looking to put my skills to work, whether for myself or for a good reason."
[23:18] * Umie nods, "I see." She pushes away the rest of her drink and yawns. "I 'ink that I should leave it at that, before I drink too much."
[23:20] * Xanthan nods, "A wise choice." He polishes off his cream and smiles.
[23:24] * Umie smiles and yawns again. "I think... I'm a bit tired. I should sleep... It was lovely meeting you, Xanthan."
[23:25] * Xanthan nods, "The pleasure was all mine, I assure you." He stands up with a sweep of his nice hat and gives a bow, kissing her hand.
[23:26] * Umie blushes lightly and smiles. "I'll see you again?"
[23:28] * Xanthan smirks, "If you stop by here, certainly. I shall count the hours."
[23:29] * Umie smiles and gives Xanthan a quick hug as she departs, waving back to him. As she leaves, her can see her tail wagging back and forth happily.
[23:30] * Xanthan smiles at the retreating tail, but resists the urge to bat at it. He goes to find a ball of yarn instead