Arcadian Gateway: Blood & Roses - preface

===> COH <===> 3/26/2020, 4:17:58 PM <===
County of Lion's Reach - Shrouded Sun Oasis

	Nestled in a shallow depression between sand dunes, rests an oasis. At the center, a sparkling spring-fed lake is fringed by lush ferns and grasses. Date palms grow in profusion, feathery fronds fanning against the sky. The entire Oasis is veiled in a thick fog, lowering the temperature and providing a cool respite from the desert heat during the day. Animal tracks can be seen, here and there, drawn to the water and lush vegetation. At night, the lake glows a faint blue green shade and some of the plants and flowers echo the glow in their own unique colors.

Contents:
Hop
Inn of the Crescent Moon(#16198eJO)
Navigation:
  Open Desert <OD>   Smoke Shrouded Path <SP>   Trail West <TW>

	Out in the middle of nowhere, quite literally, is an oasis in the desert! It is here, that the infamous Moonmaus calls home, having set up the Inn of the Crescent Moon for weary wayfarers and old friends. The sound of a guitar will be heard, small and faint, but very good.

	Technically, there might be better, but in terms of the emotions the tune pulls from the heart? IT. IS. NON-PAREIL!

Hop heads into the inn, and the little desert chimera that were following him pause at the door. He chuckles warmly to them and then digs in a pocket to fish out a bunch of handmade chimerical candies and toss them to them. That done he heads inside for a drink and to listen to the music.

	The moonmaus finishes playing his tune, then sets his little guitar aside and makes his way towards the bar, to wet his whistle. Making music makes him work up a thirst! He scampers on over, where a tiny tankard of some brewed libation or another is waiting. After he's slaked his thirst, the little beast eyes a strange face, one he hasn't seen before out in these remote parts. "'allo, 'allo," he offers, his Queen's English carrying a mix of Spanish and Arabic notes.

	(Apparently? The little beast can speak!)

Hop looks over and smiles, "Hey! a fellow Pooka, (he assumes) nice!" and heads over to join him at the bar, "I don't wear stuff in my animal form but I dig the aesthetic, very dashing." he says with a nod. "Anything rad to drink here? I haven't had a good stiff chimerical drink in far too long, all the inns closer to the cities water theirs down."

	At that? The moonmaus /BRISTLES/ whiskers twitching in a presage of indignant rage. "I," he states, "Am no pooka. I am am Don Ferdinand de la Luna, son of el Mouro Encantado - chief metallurgist, armorer and swordmaker to the Silver Knights at the Gateway Castle, rited by deed as the Eminence of Blades, known to all and sundry as also the Prince of Orphans, (current) Captain of the Perilous, (current) Lord Host at the Inn of the Crescent Moon, former champion (currently in exile) of the Last Garrison at the Arcadian Gates, former page to the Most Sagacious Library of the Archmasters at the Fors Collegis Mercuris on Mus before its fall and sack, sidekick (retired) to the Exalted Guardian of the Akashic Record known as the Fiery Fist of the Phoenix - the Fenghuang, etc, etc, etc."

	This is the oasis! Here? Is the Inn of the Crescent Moon - a miniature inn sized for beings on a rat-sized scale. Entering the door reduces the size of guests temporarily, so they can enjoy the hospitality, and returns then to normal size when they exit!

	INSIDE? Is Hop, and the Moonmaus. Hop made what might on a bad day prove to be a fatal error, taking the moonmaus for a /pooka!/. To which the Moonmaus corrected with ""I," he states, "Am no pooka. I am am Don Ferdinand de la Luna, son of el Mouro Encantado - chief metallurgist, armorer and swordmaker to the Silver Knights at the Gateway Castle, rited by deed as the Eminence of Blades, known to all and sundry as also the Prince of Orphans, (current) Captain of the Perilous, (current) Lord Host at the Inn of the Crescent Moon, former champion (currently in exile) of the Last Garrison at the Arcadian Gates, former page to the Most Sagacious Library of the Archmasters at the Fors Collegis Mercuris on Mus before its fall and sack, sidekick (retired) to the Exalted Guardian of the Akashic Record known as the Fiery Fist of the Phoenix - the Fenghuang, etc, etc, etc."

Hop smiles slowly at that and nods, "Right, right, of course my mistake." his eyes shine with mirth, smiling at the typical fellow Pooka behavior to deny it and make up a bunch of titles, he raises a hand, "My apologies good sir. Hop, no official titles yet, but lots of people think I'm the bees knees, I assure you. Lemme' pay for both our drinks as way of apology, ya?"

	The moonmaus seems appeased by Hop's offer, for now. "Fair enough." He looks to the barkeep chimera, and calls for libations!

Arthur stares in open wonder at the inn but, to be fair, it isn't the craziest thing he's seen all month and he steps through the door

Hop nods, "Thanks, and my apologies good sir, uh, Ferdinand, Ferd, what do you go by that's not like, all those words?" he says and then thanks the barkeep for the booze when it's slid his way."

	"Why, I'm the moonmaus, of course! Ferdi or Ferd to my pals, among of which you are not yet counted." A pause. "What brings you out all this way?"

Hop blinks to that, and visibly frowns a bit, so used to making friends instantly, "Collecting some of the rarer desert plants in the area, I'm a baker and an alchemist, gotta hop around to get all the things I need to make tasty stuff and also things that will help people. Then I saw this little place and thought it'd be a nice place to stop. I sent a chimera off to my pal to meet me here for drinks, he should be in soon." he nods, "But I'm glad to meet you too." he says with a smile.

Arthur bows clumsily to the moonmaus and inhales "I bid you greetings Don Ferdinand de la Luna, son of el Mouro Encantado - chief metallurgist, armorer and swordmaker to the Silver Knights at the Gateway Castle, rited by deed as the Eminence of Blades, known to all and sundry as also the Prince of Orphans, (current) Captain of the Perilous, (current) Lord Host at the Inn of the Crescent Moon, former champion (currently in exile) of the Last Garrison at the Arcadian Gates, former page to the Most Sagacious Library of the Archmasters at the Fors Collegis Mercuris on Mus before its fall and sack, sidekick (retired) to the Exalted Guardian of the Akashic Record known as the Fiery Fist of the Phoenix - the Fenghuang, etc, etc, etc." breathing in again he introduces himself "I am known as Arthur Bond, Steelmind and Wordsmith, avenger of the fallen and lover of fine wines, fine weather and fine men amongst which, I assure you, Hop can be considered, if considered in the right light"

	The moonmaus's whiskers will /twitch/. Oh, yes they will! Another new face! There hadn't been so much action at the Inn In A Very Long Time. He eyes Arthur dubiously - were his enemies sending in spies? Was a swordfight about to break out?! But then Arthur is reiterating the moonmaus's proper peerage, and things are well. "Well, that was impressive. Have a drink on me!"

Hop huffs in humor at the last bit of Arthurs address, "Thanks, never been in a tittle before." he smiles and then remembers something, "Oh, Arthur, you want a tea or something instead? I got some bangin' tea mixes in my bag."

Arthur grins at Hop and says "I think we can save the banging until we are alone, or at least in more intimate company. But if you have some non sexy time teas, I would definitely say yes. I have been advised to remain tea-total while in this liminal state."

Hop laughs warmly at that, "Right, my bad, I have some /wicked/ tea." he says with a smirk and then nods and goes digging into his bag, you want something earthy or something fruity?" he raises an eyebrow, "And if you insinuate I'm fruity you get no tea!." and then he asks the bartender for a mug of hot water to put a tea bag in.

Arthur grins "I think fruity must mean something different here, because it just means 'gay' back home. But I'll trust your judgement when it comes to tea, you more than know what you're doing."

Hop nods "It does here too, but most use it with a negative connotation." he shrugs then, to clear the air, "Cool, its hot here, let's go with the citrus one, its more refreshing." and at that he'll take out the appropriate tea bag and place it into the mug of hot water and pass it over to Arthur. "I don't have cream on me since the bag isn't magically cold or anything, but I have some kickass chimerical honey." he says as he passes him a small jar.

Arthur nods earnestly "Oh. Sorry, in that case any thought of the insinuation has perished." and with a flourish of an imaginary sword, he adds with a smile and a goodly touch of humor "Slain valiantly in your name, most noble physik."

Hop huffs in humor at that, "Citrus is good for cellular strength big guy, Honey is good for a lot of health reasons." he says as he spoons some into Arthurs drink and then takes a spoonful for himself to eat, after saying, "Plus it just tastes good." he nods then with a chuckle and takes a moment to put away his supplies.

	The moonmaus returns from some bit of private business that he had been called away to attend to in a shadowed corner of the inn. He eyes the two strangers, "Things still good over here, then?"

Arthur takes the tea with a warm smile "Thanks Hop. I'm glad to catch up with you here. It's always nice to see you socially." Still smiling, he turns to face his host "Indeed," and pauses, fearful of offending his host "is Don Ferdinand sufficient a post introductory nomenclature or is it proper form to stat your full name and title every time I address you, most gracious host?"

	The moonmaus smiles, "That's fine. Once we're pals, you can use Ferdi or Ferd. You can always use The Monmaus." He says it the way people might say "The Batman".

Hop nods, "Ya everything is swell, I got some booze, I set Arthur up with one of my bangin' tea blends and we were just relaxing a bit. So, some of the locals.." he motions around to the chimera who all seem to be sniffing at his backpack (chimerical magnet flaw) "..mentioned an adventure or something?"

	The oasis is quite a place. Wick's dark gaze shines with keen interest as he wanders at the edge of the lake. But the moment the Satyr stumbles upon the dollhouse, his interest turns to fascination. He peers inside and gasps. "Arthur? Hop?" He pauses. And a rat? Curiouser and curiouser.

	Inside the tiny inn? THINGS ARE HOPPING! All manner of minichimera frolic along the kith and kin inside. At Hop's inquiry? The moonmaus perks up! His littles paws rub together conspiratorially. "Aha. I see you managed to avoid having to be hunted down by the press gang, eh?"

Arthur waves at Wick, discreetly making the body language for "hug?" "Yeah, I told Hop I'd make some time to see him socially. And he asked if I was up for something adventurous. I'll admit, this is not what I had in mind, but I'll try anything once."

Hop nods, "Ya, the only gang I wanna be in better have cool jackets and do those snap battles before singing." he smiles and then sips his ale, "Ah, sorry Arthur, with my reputation you probably thought I was looking for a hookup somewhere dangerous, not a drink in an oasis." he says with a chuckle and a bit of an eyebrow wag.

Wick blinks, finding himself inside - somehow small enough to fit into the dollhouse. He turns to look back outside and then over at them, somewhat bewildered - but only for a moment. A bright smile flashes across his features as he drifts over. "Hello everyone." He leans in to offer Arthur a hug, smiling at the others.

	The moonmaus looks over as a satyr enters. /Another/ strangers suddenly paying a little (no pun intended?) visit to the inn! He gives Wick a wave, "Well met, traveler. Grab a seat and have a drink."

Arthur releases Wick from the hug, but not before he inhales and smiles, and returns his attention to their host "Is there anything I can do to repay your hospitality, Don Ferdinand?"

Hop looks up from his drink, "Hey Wick, nice to see you man." he says and smiles, "So what's all this about the chimera are chittering about? A daring mission to go help some Gateway?" he asks of Ferdi.

	The moonmaus offers a nod, leaning in and lowering his voice. He'll look over a shoulder a few times. "My homeland is in need of help. I'm putting together a crew to run missions from here to there on my ship. Taking supplies for the resistance, attacking targets of opportunity on the astral seas, infiltrating and reconnoitering - that sort of thing."

Wick withdraws from Arthur's hug with a hint of color in his cheeks. He nods, smiling at Hop with warmth. "It's good to see you too." And at their host's invitation, he settles down. Looking to Moonmaus, he tilts his head. "Resistance?"

	The moonmaus looks to Wick and nods. "To the Outworlders that have come and occupied the realm. They are well on their way to becoming occupiers, rather than guests."

	"Permanent occupiers, rather. The very realm itself is in danger of being irreparably reshaped."

Arthur's frown is serious as he looks to his two friends "I've had some formal training with swords and axes, I know Emrick doesn't make weapons for people. Do you guys know anyone who does? I think it's about time I start to pull my weight and earn my keep."

	"I'm going to be convening a meeting for any interested. A private gathering, here at the Inn. Leave your details with the barkeep if you're interested, and I'll make sure you receive a raven," says the moonmaus.

Hop shakes his head to that, "Nah, I'm too cute to need a weapon. And if I /have/ to fight I just wayfare the opponents weapons and clothes away, works every time." he smirks and nods. "But we can head to the market, you can pick something up there probably."

===> Log ended by user <===> 3/26/2020, 6:12:31 PM <===