Pendar - Session 17

48 Merrysest, Watersday -
As the bells chime for noon, most of the party reassembles outside the bakery to discuss what to do next, although Nimue seems to still be busy on her own.

Sana: "Greetings, comrades, what have you been doing this morn?"
Atremis stifles a yawn, nibbling happily on his lunch pastry.
Maximilian: "That is a very good question, Sana. I'm glad you asked!"
Maximilian beams with Joy, unable to contain his eagerness.
Sana: "You certainly seem perky today~"
Maximilian: "Why, at noon tomorrow, I'll be dueling a knight of Calemna."
Sana: "Oh, why are you fighting him?"
Atremis looks up from his meal, confused by Maximilian.
Maximilian: "The damn fool was gloating about scaring beggars and threatening musicians."
Efta: "Hey Pol, how do you think the boss and the others are doing?"
Maximilian: "They need some solidarity, and I daresay the scoundrel could use taking down a peg or two!"
Efta: "I reckon they would have reached Alta, by now..."
Sana: "...beat him up lots, Max."
Atremis: "(Are we beating someone up, miss Sana?)"
Sana: "I will be on the sidelines, cheering you on as you beat up horrible people~"
"(Only Max, today.)"
Maximilian: "Th-this isn't just to beat him up!"
"I-I want him to reform, you know!"
Sana: "It is to teach him a lesson."
Pol Trisk: "Yeah, prolly they have. Unless there were more problems."
Atremis: "(Why can't we help? I want to help.)"
Sana: "(So do I, but he has challenged this person to a duel, which is a one on one fight.)"
"(It would be rude to interfere with his one on one fight.)"
Atremis: "(...I don't understand. None of the bad people we fought before fought us one on one.)"
"(It was always all of us against all of them.)"
Sana: "Um... Max?"
Maximilian stretches.
Sana: "Can you explain how duels work to Atremis?"
Maximilian: "Oh, right."
Maximilian bends down towards the fox.
Sana: "He doesn't seem to understand why we all can't beat him up, eheh..."
Maximilian: "So, in this land, when people can't agree on something, they challenge each other to a duel."
Atremis looks at Maximilian, his ears twitching.
Maximilian: "They try and prove that they're better than the other! Whoever wins the duel wins the argument."
Atremis: "(So... displays of dominance?)"
"(Are you fighting over a mate?)"
Pol Trisk peers curiously at Atremis.
Maximilian flushes at the thought.
Sana: "He might be doing it for a pretty lady~"
Maximilian: "N-Not exactly. Defending the pack, you could say."
Pol Trisk: "Thought I heard something... them damn ghosts musta done something to me, I keep hearing voices."
Atremis: "(...a part of me wants to lead the pack instead of Maximatthias but I don't think I could win in a display of dominance...)"
Sana: "Or it is Efta pranking you again."
"He has a habit of doing that."
Maximilian tilts his head, looking at the fox.
Pol Trisk glares at Efta, watching the elf's hands for motion.
Pol Trisk: "Sir, do you have any magic to make me stop hearing voices?"
Sana: "I know a fantastic cure. It is known as rest~ It heals most things."
"Maybe you are fatigued from your adventures underground."
Maximilian turns from the group, and starts to investigate the markets.
Pol Trisk: "...I give up, I'm going for a beer. Mebbe hear some better voices."
Pol Trisk wanders away down the road with a wave back at Efta.
Maximilian: "(Hm, no point when I could commission from Ivanda's followers.)"
"So, does anyone need anything done today?"
Sana: "We have pastries~"
Little Girl: "Look, a fox! That lady has a pet fox!"
Atremis looks at the sudden influx of people, and yips.
Little Boy: "Liddle fox~"
Sana stands next to Atremis, a little protective.
The group of children swarm around, chattering and pointing at Atremis.
Maximilian bites his lip.
Maximilian: "He's such a smart fox, too."
Sana picks up Atremis, him willing..
Atremis barks in response.
Maximilian leans over, petting Atremis in Sana's arms.
Maximilian: "(Do you plan on letting them touch you?)"
Atremis: "(Um... is it a bad idea?)"
Sana: "(They are children, they might be too rough or not know what to do...)"
Maximilian: "(Or their hands will be dirty.)"
Young Boy: "Can I pet your fox, miss?"
Frail Boy: "...lady's scary."
Sana: "(Do you mind if they pet you, Atremis? It is your choice)"
Atremis: "(I... like being pet so it... should be okay?)"
Atremis seems hesitant.
Youngster: "It's just a fox. You guys are such babies."
Maximilian: "H-Hey now!"
Sana: "You may pet the fox if you are gentle, little ones."
Maximilian holds his breath.
Youngster: "They steal chickens all the time, it ain't nothing to be excited about,"
Young Boy skips forward and fairly gently pets Atremis on the head.
Atremis looks vaguely guilty.
Servant Boy: "Stop tryin' to sound old, Jackie. You're only ten!"
Little Girl reaches up to pet Atremis's tail.
Young Boy: "Wish my folks would let me have a fox, too."
Maximilian: "They have such lovely fur."
Atremis sniffs the kids in curiosity, trying to pick up on their scents.
Sana: "This fox helps us fight bandits and such, he's strong and smart, too."
Atremis seems to generally lose interest in the children, quietly allowing himself to be petted so long as they don't hurt him.
Frail Boy: "Bandits?"
Maximilian: "We've traveled here from a few towns away."
Little Girl: "Where'd you come from?"
Maximilian: "We started in Auna."
Young Boy: "Where's that?"
Efta: "South of here, a few days travel, I would say."
Frail Boy: "That's far. I've never been that far."
Youngster: "I'm gonna go watch the knights train. You babies stay here and play with the fox."
Efta: "H-Hey, hold on!"
Youngster: "What's it to you, stranger?"
Efta brings out several clubs from his satchel, grinning at the group of children.
Efta: "Fancy watching me perform?"
Youngster: "Sure, I guess."
Young Boy: "Yeah!"
Maximilian: "(Hmph. We'll see who is the knight and who is the baby tomorrow.)"
Young Boy: "Don't mind Jackie, he's always mean. My mum says it's 'cause he's spoilt."
Efta tosses one club up in the air, as he begins to toss up more in succession, his hands glowing faintly with an aura. [Mage Hand, Perform: Juggling: 19]
Maximilian: "Well, the thing is. I'm actually dueling a knight tomorrow."
The children watch in amazement, beginning to cheer, even Jackie.
Efta attempts a series of spins as he continues to juggle the clubs in the air. [Acrobatics: 16]
Little Girl: "Wah! Mister Elf's amazing!"
Youngster: "That's pretty impressive, I guess."
Efta catches each club, one by one, holding them in one hand as he gives an exaggerated bow to the group.
Maximilian smiles, watching the juggler with barely any less awe than the children.
Young Boy begins to clap loudly, and the others all gradually follow suit.
Maximilian: "Bravo, Efta!"
Servant Boy: "Can you teach me? I can only do three balls..."
Efta: "It would be my pleasure, if I have the time."
Little Girl: "Yay, Mister Elf~"
Servant Boy: "Wow, thanks! Hear that, Skyler? He's gonna teach me to juggle like that!"
Frail Boy: "You can do it!"
Efta glances at Maximilian, running a hand through his hair.
Efta: "Where are we off to next then, Max?"
Maximilian: "(Ah, so this is...)"
Little Girl: "Aww, you're leaving?"
Efta: "That's what I'm trying to work out, miss~"
Maximilian: "We're not in any hurry, don't worry."
Atremis uses the distraction Efta is providing to check on his fur, while the urchins are busy watching.
Frail Boy: "Where are you going?"
Maximilian: "We'll probably be getting pastries later. Though I need to check up on my horse too."
"Say, Skyler, was it?"
Sana: "As do I. We must check on both our winged horses."
Frail Boy: "Yes, sir?"
Young Boy: "Whoa, winged horses?"
Maximilian: "Maybe later would you like to hear about some of our adventures on the road?"
"As my friend just teased, we've made some pretty special friends on the road."
Young Boy: "Stories!"
Efta: "Oho, I'm intrigued."
Frail Boy: "Yes, please! I would like that a lot, sir."
Sana: "We have made friends with Winged horses and fought bears with birdlike features."
"And we fought undead horrors once. We have had quite the eventful few days..."
Little Girl: "Are you fibbing? It's not polite to fib, miss."
Maximilian: "Hahaha, you would think that, wouldn't you!"
Servant Boy: "I wanna hear, too!"
Sana: "I would never "fib"."
Maximilian: "Perhaps we should make a trip to the stables, Sana?"
Little Boy: "Horsies~"
Efta: "Seems I'll come along too, then."
Efta replaces his clubs back in his satchel, moving next to the others.
Sana: "Yes, lets make haste."
Maximilian: "We should pass the butcher's on the way, for Aquila."
Efta: "Say, kids? Where shall we meet up later?"
Young Boy: "Past the graveyard's where we usually hang out, and there's lotsa room."
Maximilian: "That sounds good, then."
Efta: "Graveyard, you say? (Hmmhmm...)"
Efta unsheathes a small, curved dagger from his belt, tossing it in his right hand idly.
Sana: "Then let us go."

After retrieving and tending to the animals, the four manage to find their way to the graveyard, where the group of children are already playing.
Sana keeps close to Asteria, petting her to keep her calm.
Servant Boy: "Skyler, the people are here! Get down from there!"
Frail Boy peers down from a house roof, watching.
Maximilian peers up, rubbing his chin.
Maximilian: "(If he falls, do you think you could catch him, Aquila?)"
Asteria grows a little more nervous.
Efta: "My, my, how did he get up there?"
"Why, I could almost say you're an acrobat in the making!"
Maximilian: "Does he do this often?"
"As much as he shouldn't, I imagine there's an alluring view up there."
Aquila watches the child and nods to Max, then squawks quietly.
Frail Boy: "I like to climb."
Young Boy: "He's always climbing. Even I can't follow him sometimes."
Maximilian: "That's an impressive skill. Aquila here has her mark on him, so he should be safe."
Young Boy seems to notice the gryphon after that, his eyes widening.
Maximilian: "Told you we weren't fibbing."
Sana: "Asteria is still nervous around strangers though, so no crowding her, please..."
Little Girl: "Mister knight, what are those things?"
Sana: "A Pegasus and a Gryphon, mythical creatures of legend."
Sana: "They can also understand Common... to an extent."
Frail Boy jumps down from the roof, looking surprisingly unharmed by the landing.
Sana: "(Right, Asteria?)"
Servant Boy: "Really? Hey, Miss Pegasus, can you understand me?"
Efta raises an eyebrow at the young boy, with a look of surprise.
Asteria looks at the child from behind Sana, flapping her wings once.
Sana: "She flaps her wings once for yes, twice for no. But please give her space."
Young Boy: "It's okay, I'll keep them back here."
Sana rubs Asteria's nose, feeding her a small piece of apple
Young Boy: "You hear that, Pat? Stay back there."
Efta turns to the side, tracing a hand over the nearby statue as he overlooks the graveyard.
Little Boy: "Mm-hm. Scawy."
Little Girl: "They're pretty. Can they fly? Can your horsie fly too?"
Maximilian: "They really are, aren't they?"
Sana: "Asteria is still young, she is not capable of flight."
Maximilian brushes Marigold's head.
Maximilian: "Marigold is a normal horse. But she and I are old friends."
Frail Boy: "I was learning to ride a horse..."
Efta turns his attention to Sana, rubbing his chin.
Servant Boy: "She's still a pretty cool horse."
Maximilian: "She's a tough lass. Saved my life before."
Maximilian tilts his head towards Skyler.
Maximilian: "You were? Do you mean to say that you stopped?"
Asteria half leaps, half flutters over the short fence, showing off.
Sana: "...it seems I was half-mistaken."
"Well done, Asteria~"
Frail Boy: "The horses kept spooking. My tutor quit."
Efta: "Spooking, you say?"
Asteria whinnies happily to Sana, looking proud of herself.
Maximilian frowns.
Maximilian: "I'm sorry to hear that."
Frail Boy: "None of them let me ride."
"Do you think your horse would let me ride?"
Atremis approaches the frail boy nervously, sniffing him.
Efta: "I suppose you could try."
Maximilian: "Hm, if anyone can..."
"Do you remember the basics?"
Frail Boy: "Yes, sir!"
Maximilian rubs his hand over Marigold's head.
Maximilian: "(Will you try, girl?)"
[Handle Animal: 11]
Marigold snorts, staring at Max.
Maximilian: "Alright, let's give it a shot."
Efta glances between Skylar and Marigold, expectantly.
Maximilian: "Will you come this way, Skyler?"
Frail Boy approaches Marigold very, very slowly, and the mare shies away slightly, clearly agitated. Even Aquila seems uncomfortable.
Maximilian: "(It's okay. He's just a child.)"
Frail Boy frowns, backing up again.
Frail Boy: "I am sorry, sir..."
Maximilian: "It's not your fault, lad."
"I wonder why that is, though..."
Servant Boy: "It's okay, Skyler, it's just horses."
Frail Boy bites his lip, and retreats a bit further.
Maximilian: "A-Are you going to be okay?"
Little Girl: "I wanna try!"
Atremis follows the boy, not showing any signs of concern.
Frail Boy: "I-it is nothing, sir."
"Hello, little fox."
Atremis yips.
Maximilian turns to the girl.
Frail Boy kneels down, holding out a hand for the fox to sniff.
Maximilian: "Well, riding was more of a special favour to the lad. But if you'd like, you could give them some brushing."
Little Boy: "Me too!"
Young Boy: "Hey, I can do better than them!"
Little Girl: "I wanted to ride the horsie."
Maximilian: "I can't let you all do that, though. There's too many of you, and they're good friends."
Young Boy: "It's okay, mister knight. They'll be fine. She can't ride anyway, she'll just fall off."
Maximilian: "That's half of why I'm worried."
Frail Boy: "I get to help with the stables sometimes! When the horses are busy."
Maximilian: "That's good to hear!"
"I was actually a stable-boy before I became a knight."
Young Boy: "Really? You still did chores, even when you're so important?"
Servant Boy: "Even though you're a lord?"
Sana: "(Max, we're disturbing that lady's praying with our... noise.)"
Efta watches Max, equally curious.
Sana: "(We might want to move once you've explained yourself.)"
Maximilian: "Truth be told, I used to be a naughty kid. It was my punishment."
"But it was how I met Marigold."
Young Boy nods sagely, looking at the youngest boy rather pointedly.
Servant Boy: "Oh. I guess that makes sense."
Little Boy: "I'm bein' good!"
Maximilian: "Well, speaking of being good or naughty..."
"I think we're upsetting the lady at the graveyard."
Stern Woman clears her throat, walking over to the group.
Stern Woman: "Children. This isn't a place to play."
Sana: "We are sorry for the disturbance, miss."
Efta: "Apologies, miss. Say, do you tend the graveyard here?"
Young Boy: "We always play here, miss."
Stern Woman: "You... could say that. I'm only a visitor in this land."
Atremis gets bored, heading away from the crowd and pulling out a pastry Sana tucked away into a satchel on his armor.
Efta titles his head at the woman curiously.
Maximilian: "Interesting."
Frail Boy hides behind the other children.
Efta: "...From Myrillia?"
Sana: "That makes me think you're extraplanar or undead, miss... but that's preposterous."
Stern Woman: "Karaminia."
"...I am not undead."
Sana: "It is why... um, I said it was preposterous!"
Maximilian: "Sana, mind your manners."
Sana: "Sorry, when I thought she said "not of this land"..."
Sana stands behind Max nervously
Maximilian: "I suppose, given where we are..."
"Well, this is why she says it's not the place to play, children."
Stern Woman glances at the pegasus, and then vaults over the fence.
Maximilian: "Graveyards are sacred, peaceful grounds."
Young Boy: "This is where we always play, sir. Sister Nina never minded."
Maximilian: "Oh, I see."
Maximilian smiles.
Maximilian: "Then I will say no more on the matter.
Efta grins at the woman's agility, observing her for perhaps what would seem too long.
Little Boy: "Big brudda..."
Little Girl: "We never hurt the graves, miss. Skyler doesn't even climb on 'em."
Maximilian: "Sounds like well enough behaved children to me, ma'am." [Diplomacy: 4]
Stern Woman: "...You're encouraging them."
Young Boy: "We only just met the knight, and we've been playing here since Pat was born. It's not his fault."
Little Girl: "He's a good guy!"
Maximilian: "(What a strong lad. He'll do well.)"
Frail Boy takes the opportunity to skulk away, and a slight scrabbling sound indicates he's probably on the roof again.
Stern Woman: "If I see you mistreating a graveyard, I will tell your parents and the authorities, am I understood?"
Maximilian: "That's easy enough for you guys, right?"
Young Boy: "We'll stay out of trouble. We never mess up the graves."
Servant Boy: "Yeah, we're not doing nothin' bad."
Efta: "What brings you to a place like this anyway, if I may ask, miss?"
Stern Woman looks sharply at Efta, seeming to have decided to let the children go.
Stern Woman: "I serve the guardian of souls. It is natural I would come here to seek guidance."
Efta smirks, rubbing the back of his head.
Efta: "Ah, that makes sense, I see~"
Stern Woman: "Somehow I doubt that is your reason for being here."
A pattering of footsteps can be heard from above, and a small figure jumps from one rooftop to another, drawing a concerned gaze from Aquila.
Maximilian: "(Reckless child.)"
Efta perks his ears, glancing back at Aquila.
Maximilian: "Our Gryphon has an eye on him. He'll be okay."
Little Girl: "Told you! Skyler's a good climber."
Stern Woman: "...What odd creatures. Are you certain they should be in the city like that?"
Maximilian: "Quite truthfully, no. But are they any safer out of it?"
"And honestly, much of the reason I'm here is to purchase appropriate barding for Aquila here."
Sana: "We also need barding for Asteria."
Stern Woman: "I see."
Sana beckons Asteria to her side.
Stern Woman: "Your name, knight? I need to know who to report if I hear of missing horses."
Sana: "Um... it is Sana Wil."
Maximilian: "Hah. Maximilian Magnus, ma'am."
Stern Woman: "Thank you. I'll remember it."
Sana: "Um... what is yours, Miss?"
Stern Woman: "Lyarra of Merisveil."
Efta: "(What a lovely name~)"
Young Boy: "I'm Sammes Tanner. Our pa's Warrick Tanner. You can tell him if we do bad, so can we play here for now?"
Lyarra of Merisveil: "...Yes. That will do, child."
Little Girl: "I'm Kitri! My parents are there in the graveyard, but you can tattle to Sister Nina."
Efta rest a hand on the little girl's shoulder, reassuringly.
Servant Boy crosses his arms, clearly not so eager to offer his name.
Little Girl suddenly hugs Efta, hiding behind him slightly.
Atremis finishes up the new pastry, looking up at Sana.
Maximilian smiles at the honesty and courage of the children.
Efta grins, kneeling beside the girl.
Lyarra of Merisveil looks over the group with a neutral expression, then jumps the fence again.
Lyarra of Merisveil bows to the large statue, startling Asteria, before walking away.
Kitri: "...she was kinda scary."
Maximilian: "She was."
Little Boy: "Scawy!"
Maximilian: "You're some brave children, though."
"...Sammes, was it?"
Sammes: "Yeah?"
Maximilian: "You're a good leader. Keep it up and you'll go far."
Sammes: "Hey, thanks a lot, sir! I'll try to be strong like you someday!"
Servant Boy slaps himself on the forehead, and turns to run.
Servant Boy: "Toad bollocks! I let Skyler run off without me again... Bye, guys!"
Sammes: "Guess we'll split for today. It was great meeting you guys and your pets, sir. Maybe we'll see you tomorrow."
Little Boy: "I don't wanna..."
Maximilian: "Well, if you do, keep an ear out for any duels going on."
Kitri: "Bye-bye, Sir Max, Miss Sana, Mister Elf, Mister Fox, Miss Pegasus!"
Maximilian: "I need to set a Calemnan Knight straight."
Atremis yips a farewell.
Sana waves goodbye silently.
Maximilian waves at the group.
Sammes: "Oh yeah! We'll come watch you, for sure! I wanna see you win!"
Maximilian: "Thanks!"
The children disperse, and the party heads back to the inn as evening grows closer. A small shadow watches from a rooftop as they leave...