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* Rhys walks in from the back room, and brightens the lamps. He unlocks the door and settles behind the bar on a stool. "Hall's open." * S'ayad'i strolls in, one hand resting casually on Eldarin's hilt, the other tucked in a pocket. * Alranis slips through the door, as shabby as ever. He sidles up to the counter. <S'ayad'i> Getting a bit chilly, isn't it, Rhys? Ale, if you would be so kind... ::she folds herself onto a stool at the bar:: <Rhys> Of course, milady. ::Rhys fills a tankard with ale and sets it on the counter:: If you'd like, I'll see about getting the fire lit. * S'ayad'i picks up the ale and takes a deep drink. * Alranis rasps. "Beer. Weider's, if you've got it." <S'ayad'i> Oh, no... I'm fine now that I'm out of the breeze. <Rhys> I believe we've got it... somewhere... ::Rhys gets a tankard and fills it with beer after a moment of studying the taps network:: Here you are. * Alranis takes a sip. <Alranis> It'll do. * Rhys nods to Alranis, pulls out a grey rag, and starts gently polishing the taps. * Alranis looks around. "Don't think I know either of you." * S'ayad'i holds out her hand. "S'ayad'i, Master Bard, at your service." * Rhys shakes his head. "I'm sorry, completely forgot my manners. I'm Rhys Altain, and I'm tending bar this evening. As a token of my apologies, this first round is on the house." <Alranis> The name's Alranis, and I've been here a couple times recently. :: He grimaces slightly :: Got roped into a little side trip as a result, too. * Alranis shake's S'ayad'i's hand. <S'ayad'i> ::grins:: This place is good for that. Hope it wasn't *too* strenuous? <Rhys> ::polishing a glass:: Really? With one of our regulars, or just a passer-by? * Alranis shrugs. "Wasn't as bad as I expected. Helped some crazy mage find a rather mobile pile of bricks." <Rhys> ::a small tremor runs through the Hall, and the lamplights outside sway on their posts. It lasts for a few minutes, then subsides.:: Well. That was interesting... Everyone all right? * Alranis grips his beer mug a little more tightly. "Is this place still settling? Or what?" <Rhys> Oh, in a manner of speaking, yes. It's perfectly safe though. :Rhys's smile at least *appears* to be wholly genuine:: <S'ayad'i> ::chuckles:: Could be. Or it could be Yb is having a party across town. You never know around here. * Alranis cocks an eyebrow. "Yeah." <Rhys> [just don't let that eyebrow go off half-cocked in here, mister. we're not that kind of establishment...] <Alranis> Don't think I've met him. <S'ayad'i> Him, who? Oh, Yb? Yb's a her. Wild mage. More than a little insane - it's quite disturbing, really, when she's in a bad mood. <Alranis> *Another* one? <S'ayad'i> Another one, what? * Lion enters the hall. He walks across the common room and takes a seat at the bar. <Rhys> Good evening. I'm Rhys Altain, I believe we've met before. Can I get you anything? <S'ayad'i> Good evening, Lion! How are you tonight? <Lion> An ale, please. ::to Rhys:: I'm... all right, I suppose. ::to S'ay:: <Alranis> Another crazy, wacked-out mage. <Alranis> Seem to be a lot of 'em here. * Lion turns to face both S'ay and Alranis. <Lion> Has anyone seen Moon Dancer lately? * Rhys fetches a mug and fills it with ale. "Here you are." <S'ayad'i> ::blinks:: Another one? Like Yb? I'm surprised the city's still standing. * Alranis shakes his head. "Don't recall meeting him." Glances at S'ayad'i. "Or her." <S'ayad'i> ::to Lion:: Not since that... odd night. <Rhys> I haven't seen him in a while. I think he's out on another of his extended wanderings through the countryside. Frankly, if he doesn't get back soon I may have to start trying to do the books myself. They're getting quite behind. <Lion> Oh... ::turns back to the bar and accepts his ale with a nod to Rhys:: I had hoped to be able to talk to him. <S'ayad'i> ::laughs:: I don't know how much difference it would make, Rhys. 'Dancer only does the books once in a blue moon, anyway. * Alranis mutters to himself. "Him. Okay. Yb is a her, Moon Dancer is a him." <S'ayad'i> ::grins at Alranis:: And your crazy, whacked-out mage? Does it have a name and gender? * Lion pulls a folded parchment from his pouch and places it on the bar, next to his mug. <S'ayad'i> ::consideringly:: Though, given some of what I've seen of Yb's magic, I suppose it could be both... or neither... <Alranis> Female. Stark raving bonkers. Zoya. She was looking for a wandering tower. <S'ayad'i> ::eyebrows raise:: *Wandering*? Did she, ah... find it? ::seems to be amused:: * Lion unfolds the parchment, the inside covered with unusual glyphs, and runs his finger over the ink. His brow creases, as if in worry or concentration. * Rhys steps over to Lion. "If you'd like, I could leave a message from you for Moon Dancer up in his workroom. It's quite possible that he stops in occasionally but just doesn't tell anyone, but just picks some things up from his workroom." <Alranis> Yeah. She found it all right. :: takes a sip :: <Lion> Hm? I suppose. I've delayed long enough. ::sits up straighter and takes a sip of his ale:: I need to make a decision whether I get to talk to Moon Dancer or not. <S'ayad'i> ::grinning:: Was it still there? <Rhys> A decision? I hope you don't mind, but you've piqued an old man's curiosity. What decision awaits you? <S'ayad'i> Are you sure she was actually a wildmage, Alranis? Maybe she was just... not all there? * Alranis snickers. "Yeah, but it took her long enough to find it." * Lion taps the parchment with a finger. <Lion> I received this yesterday. It comes from the Temple of the Five Peaks, in Shou Lung. That was the monastery where my master lived before he was expelled. * Lion takes another sip of his ale. <Rhys> Shou Lung? I think I've heard of it... But I always thought it was a myth. * Alranis peers somewhat curiously at the parchment... <Lion> Its no myth. ::smiles, somewhat sadly:: <S'ayad'i> ::giving up on Alranis' so-called mage for the moment to hear Lion's tale:: <Lion> It seems that some new information has come to light. ::sips his ale:: My master was expelled because of a murder, one he was accused of committing. <Lion> Now, it seems, one of the other monks, on his deathbed, has confessed to the crime, clearing my master's name. <S'ayad'i> But that's wonderful! <Lion> Wonderful, yes. ::sips:: But I've been invited to return my master's remains to the monastery, to be interred with the proper honor and respect, to restore his name and place. * Alranis That sounds like a bit of a trek. <Lion> I'm somewhat daunted by the journey, all the way to Shou Lung. <S'ayad'i> It does sound like a long way. How long would it take, do you think? <Lion> I don't really know. The farthest I've ever traveled was Arabel. That's the only place outside of Marsember I've been. * Lion sips his ale. <S'ayad'i> (...) How did they find you, anyway? * Alranis scratches his head. "I'd plan on, oh, several months each way, just in case." <Lion> Well, my master was in contact with the abbot--I think that's the right word--of the order. It seems the abbot didn't believe the murder charges but his hands were tied by the evidence and the witness. <Lion> I wrote the abbot myself when my master passed and we've kept a casual correspondence since. <Lion> Several months? ::visibly deflates:: <S'ayad'i> I know you didn't ask for my opinion, but I think you should do it. Take someone with you as a guide, and go. * Rhys looks out the doorway at the dark night. "I hate to be the one to say it, but this isn't the best of times to be starting a long trek *anywhere*. Winter's coming soon, and that will make some of the places east of here pretty tough going." * S'ayad'i looks up at Rhys. <S'ayad'i> He's got a good point. Especially since you're not a seasoned traveler. Unless you can find a mage who can do a good long-distance transport spell, but those are expensive. * Alranis snorts, and takes a sip. "Yeah." <Lion> Really? I'm not sure I can wait until the Spring. The abbot was most urgent. ::his finger traces down the face of the parchment, again, pausing on each character in the first column:: <S'ayad'i> I wonder why? Your master has waited this long already... <Alranis> Hmmm... <Lion> I don't rightly know. It was a bit of a puzzle to me, too. But I want to do right by my master and his friendship to the abbot. <Lion> After all these years, the abbot never doubt him. Its the least I can do...::sips his ale and shrugs:: * Rhys is staring at a spot in space, obviously figuring something out in his head. <S'ayad'i> ::grins:: Maybe Alranis' crazy friend can help you. She sounds like a traveler. ::laughs a bit:: "Wandering tower" indeed... * Lion shudders. <Lion> I'm not sure I'd survive that kind of help. * Lion grins slightly. <Rhys> ::slowly:: The main problem is going to be finding a guide to get you through the Eastern countries, across the Steppe, and then wherever you want to go in Shou Lung. <Lion> Compound that with the fact I don't know where to find such a guide. Or that I even needed a guide! ::sighs and leas back, looking hopeless:: * Alranis looks at Lion, then shakes his head as if negating a thought. <Rhys> ::smiles slowly:: It wouldn't be impossible. ::reaches in a pocket and fumbles around for a moment:: * Rhys pulls out a small, paper-wrapped object. "Rice candy?" <Lion> No, thank you. ::still looks worried, and preoccupied by his own despairing thoughts:: <Rhys> Well, you see, the rumor around the marketplace is that this candy ::unwraps another candy from his pocket and pops it in his mouth:: originates somewhere far away from here, possibly even from the land you're trying to go to... * Alranis rummages around in his pouch, then produces a small, tan confection and pushes it towards Lion. * Lion picks up the candy and sniffs it. <Rhys> [here. have sugar. all will be well. ;)] <S'ayad'i> [Kurg, you are evil. We should edit that out.] <Lion> Hey, this is familiar. * Lion hesitantly pops the candy into his mouth, then his expression suddenly brightens. <Lion> How could I have forgotten! ::smacks his forehead:: <Lion> When I was much younger, after my master first took me in, I snuck into his room and found an entire bag of candies just like this. ::chuckles:: <Lion> I was sick for two days. ::smile fades into a grimace, then he hurriedly swallows:: Which reminds me why I don't care for rice candy. <Rhys> If you'd like I could ask the merchant in the marketplace where he gets his stock from and let you know. If you trace the suppliers back far enough, you should be able to find *someone* who travels to Shou Lung. Hopefully. <Lion> You would do that? That would be a great help. * Lion turns to the cookie Alranis placed on the bar and picks it up. * Lion shrugs and returns it to the bar. * Lion turns back to Rhys. <Rhys> I'm just about out, and need to pick some more up tomorrow. I can ask him while I'm there. He's a scrawny, legless Sembian named Thaedros, in case you get anxious and want to track him down yourself." <Lion> Excellent--I had hoped to leave as soon as possible. I might just look him up myself, first thing. * Lion drains the last of his ale. <Rhys> Care for a re-fill, sir? <Lion> No, no thank you. I should return home, soon. I have a long day ahead tomorrow. <Rhys> Very well then. Good luck in your search. Would you like me to leave Moon Dancer a note that you stopped by and were looking for him? <Lion> Yes, please, if you would. And if you would ask him to come by the shop? If I've left before I get a chance to see him, I'll leave a message for him with Goodie Bidall. <Rhys> Of course. <S'ayad'i> Good luck on your journey, Lion. * Lion stands. "Thank you again for the information." ::nods to Rhys:: * Rhys nods back. "You're welcome." <Rhys> Good night. <Lion> Thank you, ::to S'ay:: and good night, all. * Lion waves and heads for the door. * S'ayad'i finishes her ale. "Well, as it's looking a bit slow, I think I'll be going, as well." * Lion disappears into the night. <S'ayad'i> Good night, Rhys! * Rhys collects all the empty mugs and sends them back to the kitchen. "Well, I hope you have a pleasant evening, S'ayad'i. Good night!" * S'ayad'i hops off her stool and heads out the door. * Rhys locks the door with his key, turns back to the room and lets out a sigh. "What a night." He heads back into the office, sits down in the chair, and starts writing a note to Moon Dancer. |
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