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* Michelle enters from the kitchen with a plate full of warm sugar cookies. She sets them on the bar, then goes and opens the doors. <Michelle> Hall's Open * Michelle is dressed in a white turtleneck with a yellow v-necked sweater over the top and a simple brown skirt. Her moon earring is in her right ear and is nearing full, matching the moon in the sky. * Zoya sweeps in from the street, carrying the same (or perhaps another) dusty tome. She stops about two steps in the door, staring at Michelle. * Tyl wanders in, her cloak pulled away from her face, but her head is covered by a silvery blue handkerchief tied down in pirate style. * Michelle returns to behind the bar and after having a whispered conversation with the mugs draws herself a mug of what appears to be milk. <Michelle> Hello Zoya. <Zoya> Ah. Not to be rude or anything, but... Where's the barkeep? ::wanders on over to the bar and sits, carefully putting her book on the stool next to her:: <Michelle> I don't know. You were here the night Rhys wandered off. Moon Dancer's so obsessed with finding Jelarthna's friend that he won't remember to eat if I was here to remind him. No one's seen any of the other barkeeps recently. And this place has just gotten so abysmal since it went to an all male staff that I've been keeping myself busy by tidying up. * Tyl sits down at the bar. <Michelle> You're Tyl, correct? <Tyl> That's me. If there's no bar keep, does that mean I can't have a drink? <Zoya> Was it that bad? I thought Rhys would have done a reasonable job cleaning things up. ::helps herself to a cookie:: Hmm. These are good. A molasses drizzle over the top would be great, though. * Jelarthna opens the door and steps inside. His eyes are bloodshot, and his face appears a tad more gaunt than usual, but he moves with his normal grace as he hangs his cloak. <Jelarthna> ::looks slightly surprised at the crowd before him, and bows deeply to each:: Good evening, ladies. <Michelle> No, you can still get a drink. I just can't promise to be as fast or knowledgeable as the regular staff. <Michelle> Molasses...I believe I saw some in the back. Would you like me to get it. <Zoya> Jelarthna! <Michelle> Good evening Jelarthna. How's the arm? <Zoya> ::to Michelle:: No, thanks. <Tyl> Evening, handsome! <back to Michelle> I wouldn't mind some rum, if you can find it. * Tyl reaches into her purse and pulls out some odd coins. * Michelle turns has starts a whispered conversation with the mugs. <Zoya> ::to Jel:: You look like you haven't eaten or slept in a fortnight. <Jelarthna> ::smiles at the comments, and walks over to the bar:: <Jelarthna> ::to Michelle:: Still the same. <Tyl> I think these are fakes... <turns smallish silver colored coins over in her hand> <Jelarthna> ::to Zoya:: I don't think I have, actually. ::grins:: * Michelle picks up a glass and turns back to Tyl, "Ice?" <Tyl> thanks! <Jelarthna> ::scratches his head with his good hand:: Maybe not quite that long, though. It's been a week, right? * Zoya picks up the plate of cookies and holds it out toward Jel. "Have some food." * Michelle puts a few ice cubes in the glass, then sets it down on the bar next to Tyl. She then rummages beneath the bar briefly and returns with a bottle which she also places on the bar next to Tyl. <Zoya> Michelle, can you bring anything more substantial than this out of the kitchen for Jelarthna? * Tyl pours herself a glass of rum. <Michelle> Sure. ::looks Jel over:: I think stew is in order first. * Michelle disappears into the kitchen. <Jelarthna> ::gratefully takes a cookie:: I can't recall when I've ever been this hungry. ::softly:: not even the last time... <Zoya> ::frowns:: The last time..? Jelarthna, have you been FASTING? <Jelarthna> No...not exactly. There were certain conditions...ordeals? that I had to meet. * Tyl takes a drink of rum. <Zoya> Maybe you'd better start at the beginning. * Michelle returns from the kitchen with a steaming bowl of thick stew, and plate of rolls, and a crock of butter. * Tyl snitches a roll <Jelarthna> ::shakes his head:: I'm sorry, on this I'm sworn to secrecy. And I haven't really finished processing what I think I've learned yet. <Michelle> Sorry about the rolls. I warmed them over the stove, but it would have taken too long to make a fresh batch. <Jelarthna> ::smiles at Michelle:: Thank you anyway! It smells wonderful. <Jelarthna> ::studiously avoids noticing Tyl eating the filched roll:: <Zoya> ::sighs:: All right. But you'll sleep here tonight, or in the Tower, at least. <Jelarthna> ::nods to Zoya:: Absolutely. I think I'm getting more in tune with the strange things going on in my arm. I think I felt... more, yes, more going on in there when I was away from here. <Tyl> oh, so you did find your silly tower... I wondered. <wipes crumbs from face> <Jelarthna> I also was able to picture the Hall quite clearly, and I think I even know where the Tower is right now... It's very odd. <Zoya> ::Frowns:: Jelarthna, that thing - whatever it is - is *evil*! We don't *want* you getting in tune with it! * Michelle nods in agreement with Zoya, then starts nibbling a cookie. <Jelarthna> ::shakes head:: I know..it's just...I feel somewhat detached from it now. I know thing are coming to a head, but I feel like I'm only a small part of it. * Jelarthna shakes his head and eats some more stew. * Tyl examines the sides of the coins... <Tyl> definitely fakes... but fake whats? <Jelarthna> ::Jel looks over curiously:: What are fakes? <Zoya> ::to Tyl:: Fakes? <Tyl> these - <indicates piles of small coins> <Jelarthna> ::looks at the coins:: May I examine one? <Tyl> go right ahead. * Zoya picks up a couple of the coins and examines them closely. * Michelle takes a look at the coins. "Where did you get these?" * Jelarthna picks up a small, copperish coin and examines it closely. <Tyl> <makes a small face> Looting... <Zoya> Fascinating. Look how regular. I think the copper pieces are real, Tyl, though what good they do so small... You could probably have them re-cast. <Jelarthna> Hmmm. The metalwork is very fine. ::picks up another, then another:: * Michelle takes one of the larger ones and exams it more closely. <Tyl> I've never seen coins like this before. He had some papers on him too. <Michelle> Still got those? * Tyl digs around in her backpack and pulls out a wad of green slips of paper <Jelarthna> I don't know much about metalwork. It's too bad Lion isn't here. There is an awful lot of detailed, regular work here. Either there's a lot of craftsmen turning these out, or someone has some incredible molds. * Michelle takes the wad and begins to flip threw it, finally pulling one of the slips out and examining it carefully. <Jelarthna> ::to Michelle, almost around a bite of stew, while trying to hold 4 coins:: See something you recognize? <Michelle> Yeah. ::puts the slip of paper down:: I'm fairly certain these aren't fakes Tyl. Where were you looting that you got them? <Tyl> They all look nice and pretty and all, but they're not silver or anything - it's some sort of alloy, but I don't think even I could make it <Tyl> more like *what* was I looting? <grin> It's a bad habit of mine... It was a vampire and some of his thuglies <Zoya> Look how *tiny* they all are... And this one - look - layers of copper and... I'm not sure what this metal is, here... ::pulls out a knife and scratches the back of the coin:: <Jelarthna> ::grins:: Just out of curiosity, who attacked whom? <Jelarthna> ::munch munch:: <Tyl> well - to tell the truth - they attacked me. They've been doing it a lot recently. I'm getting better at hitting them back. <Michelle> They're suppose to be an alloy. The government that issued them decided it was cheaper to issue money like this and then hold onto the actual precious metals than to make the coins out of precious metals. <Tyl> Who's government? <Zoya> But... That's ridiculous! * Michelle points to some writing on one of the bills, "The government of the United States of America." <Jelarthna> That sounds strange. How can you run around buying things with money that isn't worth anything? <Tyl> Well, actually... I've been places where coins are made from wood. Someone decides how much the wood is worth - after all, gold is pretty useless stuff - pretty, but useless. You can't eat it, or make armor with it... <Michelle> Well, the principle was that the government guaranteed the value of the money. ::points to an apparent signature on one of the bills:: This is the signature of the Treasury promising the value of the bill. <Jelarthna> Yeah, but it's rare, and thus valuable. <Michelle> Gold's very useful if you know what to do with it. <Tyl> actually, for me, gold's not all that rare. I can make it... <Jelarthna> The promise of a Treasury? ::grins:: <Jelarthna> ::looks curiously at Tyl:: Really? <Zoya> I see. But if someone from that place decides to travel, they have to have this scrip converted back to precious metals. Why not just issue the metals to start with! <Jelarthna> I would think counterfeiting is a lot easier, too. Wit good scales, you know exactly how much worth you've got. <Tyl> Where is this place? Is it far? I'm wondering how many more vampires there are. If it's far - maybe they're done coming... <Michelle> Well, for one thing, all the other places you could be expected to travel to did the same thing, only their bills and coins looked different and had different values. <Jelarthna> ::looks confused:: They all had the same idea? Why? <Zoya> ::frowns:: It sounds like the governments decided to cheat the people. <Michelle> As for counterfeiting, no one bothers with the coins because they aren't worth enough, and if you examine the bills, you've got to be pretty good to fake them. Plus they're printed on a special kind of paper. There were other innovations to make it even harder but none of these bills seem to be that new. <Michelle> It's on another plane. <Tyl> Well, you're welcome to this batch of stuff, if you want it - I don't think it'll value me much - except as a curiosity <Zoya> Remind me never to go there. It sounds like they go to more trouble over their scrip than most countries would go to over the actual coin. <Jelarthna> ::shakes his head ruefully and chomps on some more stew & roll:: <Michelle> I think it originally started as a way to make money easier to transport. There was also the issue that all of their economies had become interdependent. If one got into financial trouble, it would bring several others down with it. Once it actually managed to bring them all down. <Zoya> ::shakes head:: Give me gold any day. <Jelarthna> Was this their intention? That doesn't sound too bright. <Michelle> As for cheating the people, yeah, there was an awful lot of that going on. But that's true of just about any government. * Tyl rummages through her pack some more. <Tyl> He had a bunch of strange stuff. I don't know what any of it is. <Jelarthna> Cormyr's generally pretty good. ::thinks:: What plane is this place on? Have you been there, Michelle? <Michelle> Well they were SLOWLY working their way to uniting everyone under one government. The problem of course being that they all wanted to be the one running things. So they'd play games of building each other up, and then knocking the supports out from under someone and hoping they'd be the one to absorb the fallen. <Jelarthna> ::with some disgust:: Politics. <Michelle> I was born there. Moon Dancer was to, or at least a very similar one if I'm not mistaken. <Tyl> Planes... <sigh> good thing, seems hard to move from one plane to another - bad thing, I can't very well guard a pass or anything <Jelarthna> ::to Michelle:: Oh really? * Tyl pulls out a few odds and ends including some small pieces of brightly colored cards <Jelarthna> ::To Tyl:: There are a couple of things one can do, but they're very complicated. I'd help you out, but I don't think I can handle those rituals with only one hand. <Tyl> Oh, that's okay. I sort of don't mind. Mostly. At least it's not dull. <Michelle> Save your strength Jelarthna. You'll be much more use to everyone if you get yourself health than you will if you die trying to help someone while you're sick. * Tyl pulls out a metal cylinder with a handle. <Jelarthna> ::smiles:: Well, maybe I'll be able to whip something together once all this is over with. <Tyl> This is the thing I'm most curious about. It made some interesting noises. Is it magic, you think? <Jelarthna> ::looks at the thingie:: <Zoya> Mmm. ::looks over the cylinder:: Definitely not magic. <Zoya> Mechanical... I could take it to the tinker gnomes and have them analyze it, if you like. * Michelle carefully takes the metal cylinder with the handle away from Tyl and places it under the bar. <Tyl> I think it's sort of dangerous. He was waving it around at me like he expected me to be afraid of it. I was, but only because I don't know what it's supposed to do - HEY! <Jelarthna> ::looks at Michelle:: What was that about? <Michelle> It's very dangerous if you don't know how to use it. <Jelarthna> What is it? <Michelle> It's called a gun. Have you ever heard of an arquebus? <Tyl> Nope... <Jelarthna> Yes. Is that similar? <Michelle> Yes. Only this is deadlier and less likely to blow up in your face. <Tyl> well, not blowing up in your face is good, I think <Michelle> Yeah it is. The real problem is that they mass produce the damn things so that anyone with a grudge can get one and shoot up a school or church without having any practice at all. <Tyl> hm. like a fireball wand. I had a friend who had one - she toasted herself <Jelarthna> Deadlier how? More accurate? Because that's one of the big problems with the arquebus. Also the slow reload time. <Zoya> ::frowns:: Just what kind of sick plane are you *from*, Michelle? <Michelle> More accurate and maybe not this model, but certainly many others had significantly longer range. Plus most of them can fire at least six times before reload and even then can be reloaded faster than an arquebus. <Jelarthna> It's also really hard to use when it's wet, and prone to go off if you cast so much as a minor fire spell at it. <Tyl> <shudder> interesting. You can have it. <Michelle> The kind that tinker gnomes would build is probably the easiest explanation. <Jelarthna> That sounds interesting. Can I take a look at it? * Michelle fiddles with the gun for a minute or two, removing a thin box from the handle and a pointed cylinder from the cylinder, then hands the gun to Jelarthna. <Jelarthna> ::examines the gun:: What was that you took out of it? * Michelle sifts through the items Tyl deposited on the bar, and transfers a couple of them beneath the bar. <Jelarthna> ::begins to find the moving parts:: <Michelle> The bullets. There the powder and the projectile packaged together to make it easier to carry ammunition and easier to reload. Plus you don't have to worry as much about your ammunition getting wet or catching on fire. Still a problem, but not nearly as bad. <Tyl> weird stuff. <Tyl> I think I'll stick to something simple, like my sword. <Michelle> Trust me. You're much better off with a good enchanted sword. <Jelarthna> That small? Amazing. May I see one of these "bullets"? Don't worry, I won't try to put it in this gun-thing. * Michelle hands Jelarthna the bullet she removed from the chamber of the gun and keeps a very careful eye on what he's doing. <Jelarthna> There is something to be said for defeating an enemy at range. * Tyl picks up a small square package, containing some sort of rolled up cylinder <Michelle> Yeah, but when every disgruntled employee can kill his boss and half his coworkers without breaking a sweat there's something wrong. <Jelarthna> I take it the pointy end is what shoots out? I thought ammunition was normally spherical. <Michelle> I don't know the whole story, but as I understand it a group of people did a lot of research and determined that given the propulsion and aiming mechanisms, a conical design made of a malleable metal such as lead was the design most likely to inflict grievous bodily harm. <Jelarthna> Any weapon should be wielded with care and training. There will always be some that are reckless or untrained, but there's only so much damage one can do with a knife or a sword so fast without that training and discipline. * Tyl shakes her head. * Zoya blinks. "Michelle! You sounded just like one of my tinker gnomes there for a minute... Only slower." <Tyl> That was convoluted. Did you follow that, Zoya? <Tyl> *You're* tinker gnomes? You have some? <Michelle> Well I was trained to do work similar to what tinker gnomes do. Only no one in my world talks that fast unless they're trying to hustle you into buying something. <Jelarthna> I got most of it... I think. Is it kind of like using different arrowheads? For instance, for hunting one uses a barbed head, but for piercing armor, something more like a nail works better. <Zoya> ::to Tyl:: Of course! Well, they're not really *mine*, of course - they're Erdian's. I just take care of them for him. <Tyl> Who's Erdian? <Zoya> + <Jelarthna> - <Michelle> Exactly Jelarthna. <Zoya> [And the cat walks across the keyboard, and "adds" something to the conversation...] <Zoya> Erdian is a god. Well, a deity. He used to live here, and he was killed fighting a demon here in the Hall... It's all very complicated. <Tyl> Sounds like it. * Tyl twists the little package around, trying to figure out how to get into it. <Jelarthna> ::nods:: Okay, I get it. I suppose they wouldn't be too bad if the handling of these guns was limited, but there are always ways to get forbidden things. Especially powerful ones. ::sets the gun and bullet back on the counter in front of Michelle:: <Tyl> well, I'm not selling it - I've had enough problems selling things * Michelle moves both items back beneath the bar, "The problem is, a very old law has been interpreted as ensuring that everyone who wants one can have one." <Jelarthna> ::Polishes off his stew and swipes the bowl with the last roll.:: Ah! Thanks so much, Michelle. I feel much better now. <Michelle> There's more if you want it. * Tyl finally gets the little package off - pulls out a rolled up tube... <Michelle> Probably a good idea Tyl. <Tyl> what is this thing? It's sticky * Michelle blushes slightly. "Lets not discuss that." <Jelarthna> That's a strange law for a government to have. Usually they're more geared to keeping weapons out of the commoners' hands. <Michelle> Well the law was written shortly after a group of wealthy land owners convinced the common people to rise up against the previous government because the wealthy land owners didn't want to pay taxes. <Jelarthna> ::looks at the tube, Michelle, and Tyl:: Is there something weird about this item? It looks harmless enough. * Tyl unrolls the thingy and gives it a strange look <Michelle> Actually, it protects people from a lot of illnesses, some of them very deadly. It's just that it's a semi-taboo subject. <Jelarthna> Maybe it's used to hold something? * Tyl looks at the package it came in, turns purple and promptly stashes it away. <Tyl> Sorry... <Jelarthna> Is it a talisman of some sort? Why would something that helpful be taboo? <Michelle> Um...well...::Michelle takes a deep breath:: You see Jelarthna in my world there are some rather deadly diseases that are transmitted during sex. That helps prevent the transmission of the disease as well as helping to prevent pregnancy. <Zoya> ::looks closely at Michelle:: You *really* sounded like one of my tinker gnomes that time... <Jelarthna> ::blinks:: What's wrong with that? <Jelarthna> It sounds like something everyone should use. <Michelle> Where I come from there are two schools of thought on sex. The conservative view is that it shouldn't be talked about, certainly not across gender lines unless the individuals involved are having sex. There's also the more modern view that says that sex should be talked about openly in order to prevent the transmission of diseases and to cut down on unwanted pregnancies. <Michelle> To answer your question Zoya, the more modern view is primarily advocated by people trained to work in a fashion similar to tinker gnomes. <Tyl> well, I think I'll take my assortment of weirdo things and go crash... <Zoya> ::laughs:: I just meant the way you talked really fast to get it all out. <Tyl> It's been educational. <Zoya> Yes, it is getting sort of late, isn't it? <Jelarthna> ::blink, blink:: Uh. Okay. As much as I've been around humans, I still can't figure you out sometimes. And this place you're from sounds even stranger than usual. <Michelle> I've thought the same thing about this world on more than one occasion. <Zoya> Jelarthna, are you sleeping here or at the Tower? I'd like to look at your arm before I go, either way. * Tyl waves <Tyl> Goodnight! <Michelle> Goodnight Tyl. <Zoya> Good night, Tyl! <Jelarthna> Goodnight Tyl. * Tyl tosses Michelle a few "real" coins <Tyl> For your trouble. * Michelle puts the coins in the money box. <Jelarthna> ::looks around:: I'd feel kind of odd staying here without one of the official proprietors around. No offense, Michelle. But I don't want to impose on you, Zoya. <Zoya> How can you be more imposition than a half-dozen or so tinker gnomes? The Tower has plenty of space. <Jelarthna> ::smiles:: Well, they were there before you, after all. <Michelle> Jelarthna, I'd point out that you're already imposing on Zoya by having your arm be a part-time resident in the Tower. How much more of an invitation do you need? <Zoya> ::laughs:: They offered to leave when I came, though, but they'd never been out of the basement. Come on, we'll go back to the Tower and I'll be able to get a good look at your arm. <Zoya> ::chuckles:: The lady has the right of it. Your arm is already there. Bring the rest of you. <Jelarthna> ::snorts:: Okay, we should get going then. ::looks back at Michelle:: Do you want us to wait around a bit for you to lock up, or are you planning to stay here? <Michelle> I'm staying here. Someone has to remind Moon Dancer to eat, and this is where Jaret expects to find me until we've solved the problem with your arm. Besides if things come to a head with your arm I'll be easier to contact if I'm here. <Zoya> ::nods:: Probably wise. You know how to reach us if you need us...? <Jelarthna> Okay, I guess we'll be off then. Goodnight, Michelle, and be sure to let us know if Dancer gets back with any news. <Michelle> Um, actually no. How do we contact the Tower from here? <Zoya> ::grins, and tosses a small crystal to Michelle:: Here. Break this, and I'll know about it. Or, for less urgent matters, a mundane messenger will do. <Jelarthna> ::stops digging in his pouch one-handed (and cursing silently):: * Michelle pockets the crystal, "Mundane messengers I had thought of." Smiles. <Zoya> Good night, Michelle! <Jelarthna> ::bows to Michelle and opens the door for Zoya:: <Michelle> Goodnight Zoya. Goodnight Jelarthna. * Zoya heads out into the night with Jelarthna. * Michelle begins cleaning off the bar, piling up dishes to take back to the kitchen. * Michelle returns from the kitchen and locks the doors. * Michelle dims the lamps and heads up the stairs, "Tyl, why couldn't you have just left the condoms alone." |
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