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* Michelle unlocks the door and announces, "Hall's Open." * Michelle returns behind the bar. She's wearing a pale green sundress and her hair hangs free. * Lisl saunters in the back door, a brace of rabbits hanging from her belt. She glances at the moon. "A little late tonight, isn't it? What happened, the mugs lock you out again?" * Nacheyla walks in, her yellow star dancing around her head. * Zoya enters, a book tucked under her arm. She sits at the nearest table, opens the book to somewhere in the middle, and begins reading. * Michelle shrugs, "I had other things to attend to." <Michelle> Can I get anyone anything to drink? * Jaret walks in, moving a little stiffly with his right leg. He's wearing a midnight blue doublet and breeches. His hair is bound in its usual queue, and his rapier hangs in its usual place at his side. "Well met, gentles!" <Zoya> ::muttering under her breath:: ...swear it was here... yes, yes, yes, of course the flux capacitor must... ::flips a page:: ...what kind of idiot... <Nacheyla> Hey boss... how are you? ::sits at a bar stool:: I'll take a beer, please * Lisl doffs and imaginary hat, and bows elaborately to Jaret. "Good evening, Lord Malkier." ::nodding to the leg:: "Did a lady accept your advances unkindly?" ::grinning:: * Michelle fills a mug with beer and sets in on the bar in front of Nacheyla. "Fair Nacheyla, and yourself?" <Nacheyla> Oh, I don't know... a little dubious, I guess <Michelle> Over what? * Jaret returns Lisl's bow with his real hat, and he grimaces slightly at her observation. "Nay, the fair maidens I have met lately have been quite accommodating. However, some of the foreign fauna wasn't quite as hospitable." <Nacheyla> Someone's following me around... I haven't been able to get a good look at him... tried chasing him down an alley earlier tonight and he gave me the slip. <Michelle> Would you like a glass of the usual Jaret, or would you like something else to nurse the leg? <Jaret> A glass of Arabellan Red would be welcome. All the leg needs is time and the proper exercise. <Lisl> "Foreign fauna"? ::raises an eyebrow, her grin widening:: You got bit? * Michelle pours Jaret a glass of wine and sets it on the bar for him. <Zoya> ::mutter:: ...move the ley-conductor over here... ::pulls a pencil out of her sleeve and begins sketching lightly in the margins of her book:: * Jaret raises his glass to Lisl. "To your keen intellect, m'lady." * Michelle blinks at Nacheyla, "Could this have anything to do with the vampire who escaped you and Xarroch?" <Nacheyla> I don't know... <Lisl> ::smiles and shakes her head:: There was no need to travel to foreign lands to get bitten, Jaret. I'm sure there are plenty here who would be happy to bite you, if you asked nicely. ::grins some more:: So, what was the offending creature? Anything serious? ::grin fading for a moment:: * Jaret furrows his brow and shakes his hand. "Moderately serious at the time. Some little vicious creature that I think is called a shadow asp." He shrugs. "It was dark, and it apparently is indistinguishable from the shadows it lurks in. The poison was worrisome, but everything is all right now. Your concern is appreciated, Lisl." He smiles and has another sip of his wine. <Lisl> Shadow asp... ::thinks a moment:: You *were* far afield, weren't you? ::smiles again and shakes her head, as she unhooks the hares from her belt and hefts them:: Fresh meat, Michelle. Where do you want it, freezer, or stewpot? <Nacheyla> ::gives Lisl a long look:: You know, I heard a rumor the other day... you might want to be careful who might be taking a leak in the woods when you run after the wildlife... * Zoya looks up suddenly. "Does anyone here have a type-four terminence rod I can borrow for a few months or so?" <Michelle> Freezer Lisl. I never found a good recipe for rabbit. <Lisl> ::raises an eyebrow:: I'm always careful when I'm hunting. Why, did I score a near miss on someone I shouldn't have? <Nacheyla> Local drunk... no one's listening to him... <Michelle> 'Fraid not Zoya. <Zoya> ::sighs and goes back to her sketching:: <Lisl> Oh, I can give you some Michelle...they're wonderful stewed with plenty of herbs. They're better stewed. Too many bones, otherwise. ::poking her tongue at a back tooth:: <Nacheyla> I have a good recipe for rabbits... it's ground rabbit, spices, and onion... you core apples and stuff the rabbit sausage inside. Then bake it with a pastry shell around it. And gravy... * Zoya whispers a few arcane words and makes a gesture with her left hand. An illusion of a ship, about the size of a child's toy, appears in front of Zoya. She begins to manipulate it, rotating it and making changes. <Nacheyla> ::looks over at Zoya's boat:: Oh, that's neat... <Lisl> ::shrugs a shoulder as she strolls into the kitchen, voice echoing out through the door as she puts the rabbits away:: Anyway, as I said, there's naught for me to worry about. As I said, I'm a careful hunter, and I've done nothing under the public eye that should give anyone cause for concern. <Zoya> ::smiles at Nach:: Thank you. ::goes back to making changes:: <Nacheyla> ::takes a sip of beer:: Then, perhaps, there may be another? <Lisl> ::coming back out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel and looking at Nacheyla frankly:: Another...? <Nacheyla> ::glances around the room:: Another hunter... one who isn't so discrete... <Lisl> ::shrugs her shoulders:: There are plenty of careless hunters in the woods. Don't know why anyone would confuse them with me. I'm well enough known around here. * Zoya 's ship expands to about the size of her head, and she begins sketching on it with her pencil, which leaves behind faintly glowing greenish marks. * Jaret sips some more wine. <Nacheyla> Well ::sips her beer:: like I said, no one's listening to him... and I thought you should know... but you know how drunks are... they see the strangest things while they're drinking <Lisl> ::shrugs and chuckles, coming back from the kitchen after having put away the towel:: Speaking of which...Michelle, could I have a mug of...hmmm....mulled wine, please? It was chilly out there today. <Michelle> Certainly Lisl. * Michelle begins preparing the mulled wine. * Michelle sets the mug of mulled wine on the bar in front of Lisl. * Lisl picks up the mug, cupping it in both hands and smiling at the warmth. "Perfect, just what the cleric ordered." * Lisl takes a sip of wine. "Michelle, Jaret, have either of you seen Yohko recently? I wanted to ask her about a few things." <Michelle> Not since earlier this evening. You can probably catch her at home this evening though. <Jaret> I haven't seen Yohko lately, no. But I've been outside Marsember's walls until a few days ago, so that's not surprising. * Nacheyla sips her beer, staring off into nothing <Lisl> ::nods:: Fair enough. ::looking at Jaret:: You seem to have been wandering quite a bit of late. Is something up? * Jaret looks entirely too innocent for his own good. "Up? No. Just traveling abroad." * Michelle looks at Jaret, but decides not to press for more information. <Lisl> ::glances from Jaret to Michelle and back to Jaret:: Now Jaret, I thought you believed it was impolite to lie to a lady. ::grimaces:: Or, at least, to a friend. * Lisl sips her wine. * Nacheyla finishes her beer. <Jaret> ::face grows dark momentarily:: I apologize if I have offended you by not speaking the complete truth. Suffice it to say I have a more regular employer now, and idle chit-chat about my activities is not looked upon with a beaming smile and joyous brow. <Nacheyla> ::to Michelle:: I think I am going to go... I've been up late recently, and I find that I'm not getting enough rest. Be a dear, and give this to Yohko, if you see her... * Nacheyla hands Michelle a scroll <Zoya> ::glances up and raises an eyebrow in Jaret's direction, then returns to her "diagram" * Michelle pats Jaret's arm and shoots a glance at Lisl. "Most of us have things we can't or won't talk about Jaret. We understand." * Jaret stands and bows to the departing Nacheyla. "Good night, lady! Take care on your journey this evening!" <Lisl> ::slight smile:: No, Jaret, it's alright. There's a difference between being evasive and being discreet. Perfectly understandable. ::raises an eyebrow:: Tho' I admit to being someone surprised to find you engaged in such employ. <Michelle> Certainly Nacheyla. <Nacheyla> ::nods to Jaret:: Good night, sir. I'm always careful <Lisl> Good night, Nacheyla. Sleep sweet. * Nacheyla leaves the Hall <Jaret> ::to Lisl:: Nothing I do runs counter to my personal ethics and beliefs, and my tasks have even given me some personal satisfaction once they have been completed. Does the requested silence surprise you, or something else? <Lisl> ::glances casually around the room as Nacheyla leaves, noting who remains:: Jaret knows perfectly well where I'm coming from, Michelle. I just worry when someone usually so open is being... well... less than open. ::shakes her head:: Don't worry, Jaret, I won't press you further. * Zoya banishes her illusory ship, then looks around. "Does anyone know of a shipwright in the area who is used to working with mages and who will build to specifications with no questions or arguments?" <Michelle> Not really. You'd probably have to ask Eljorin. ::smiles mischievously:: Or you could get Glossaria to do it. <Jaret> I'm sorry, High Priestess Zoya, but I'm not a sailor, and have never needed any sort of watercraft built for me, let along one of exotic configuration. <Zoya> ::grins:: Do what? Find the shipwright, or build the ship herself? <Michelle> Ask Eljorin. <Lisl> ::rubs her chin, hiding a smile:: I'm sure Glossaria would be more than happy to ask Eljorin for you. <Zoya> ::laughs:: Yes, I'm sure she would. But I need my answer, and knowing Glossaria, she'd talk Eljorin into kidnapping her. <Lisl> Maybe you could ask Lion. As a metalworker, I'm sure he's had occasion to work with shipwrights. And I know *he* does that sort of work. <Zoya> ::grins:: Yes, he's done some work for me in the past. Very good. I'll see if he knows anyone... * Lisl sips her wine. "It does explain a few things, though, Jaret. ::smiles:: Like your recent showering of gifts. Just wait 'til your birthing-day. I found something choice for *you.* <Jaret> ::Jaret's eyes sparkle merrily:: Lisl... you shouldn't have, but I'm sure I'll be glad you did. * Lisl chuckles evilly. <Lisl> Oh...that reminds me of something I've been meaning to ask. ::tipping her head to one side to indicate the swords on the wall:: Can anyone tell me how Sealgair died...the second time, I mean? I was there for the first. ::a cloud passing over her features:: Something my mother said...::shakes her head and looks around:: * Zoya shakes her head. * Jaret frowns, and gulps the rest of his wine. <Lisl> No, Zoya? Either of you? ::glancing from Jaret to Michelle:: <Jaret> It was something I don't think I'll ever understand. He reappeared one day, with almost no memory of who he was. It turned out he was waiting for Moon Dancer to return. Sealgair grabbed Moon Dancer, and... it's hard to explain. We all traveled somewhere, and saw things that I can't understand. Threads in space. It ended in a primal, green place. Moon Dancer seemed at home, and then Sealgair vanished. It was if he spent all his energy taking us wherever we were. When he disappeared, we were all back in the Hall, the swords were on the floor, and he was gone. Moon Dancer didn't remember what happened that night for a long while, and I think he understands both best and worst what happened that night. * Jaret somberly nudges his goblet towards the kitchen. * Lisl frowning deeply, seeming lost in thought as she listens to Jaret, gazing at the swords. She looks up sharply. "No memory? So he never really acted like his old self?" * Lisl takes a sip of her now-lukewarm wine, grimacing slightly but not seeming to register the taste. <Lisl> I just wonder....::looks musingly at the swords on the wall, and then lifts her right hand and studies it with the same intent expression:: Zoya, Michelle, how are either of you at...how do I ask this? Determining the...umm...nature of a magical item? <Zoya> ::looks over at the swords, then back at Lisl:: It depends on the item, of course. The more powerful and complex the item's magic, the harder it is to see all of its patterns. <Lisl> Hm. The reason I ask...Sealgair once said something about his swords containing part of his soul. If Jaret says that Sealgair didn't seem like his old self, I wonder if it was... ::searches for words:: if it was somehow him, without a soul. Just the compulsion of a friend's need, or something like that.... <Lisl> If Sealgair is really dead, his swords should be, too. <Lisl> Would it be easier to tell if you had a similar item to compare the... umm... patterns to? <Zoya> ::frowns:: I saw him a few times, during the time Jaret is describing. He seemed to come wake up a bit if an old patron was around - remembered more, and such... <Zoya> Maybe. It really would depend on the actual items, though. Did you have a specific question in mind? <Lisl> I... I don't know. I suppose I want to find out if his soul might still be in there. And as to the other items.... ::finishes off her now-cold wine, and puts the mug down, patting it on its backside to send it to the kitchen:: <Zoya> ::frowns:: I suppose a cleric-mage might be the best one to look into that, at that. I understand he was a cleric of sorts, himself? Or perhaps a paladin? Do you recall his deity's name? * Lisl props both elbows up on the bar, holding her hands up in front of her in the form of fists. The air glows and shimmers around her hands and forearms, and coalesces into the form of matching metal bracers with long, knife-like, wickedly sharp claws extending over the backs of her hands and a good nine inches into the air. <Zoya> ::blinks with surprise and leans forward to look at the bracers:: * Lisl smiles and holds them up for Zoya's inspection. Her eyes are bright yellow, and a smile is tugging at her mouth. "Damn, it's been a while since I've needed these. It feels good to have them again." * Zoya reaches out a tentative finger to touch the glowing metal. <Lisl> Careful, they're sharp. ::her grin is downright feral:: <Zoya> I can see that. ::smiles:: Well, if you want me to look into it, why don't we head back to the Tower? <Lisl> ::nods:: Fair enough. Do you think you might get enough information from these to compare to Sealgair's swords? They're made form the same material... just not *exactly* in the same way, as I understand.... <Zoya> Well, it's worth a look at any rate... ::leads the way out, book tucked under her arm:: * Lisl takes an experimental swipe through the air with her claws, listening to them sing in the quiet. "Better put these away for safekeeping, for now." * Lisl drops her hands, the claws melting into a bright mist and disappearing. * Lisl slips out the door after Zoya. |
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