Love Potion Number WHAT?
Log Info
- Title: Love Potion Number What?
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Mikilos, Braelnoir, Jedrek
- Place: A15: Mithralla Merchandise: Library
- Time: Thursday, May 13, 2021, 10:05 PM
- Summary: Cryo and Lily are relaxing in the Mithralla Library when Mikilos returns, disguised as a grey gnome. Cryo is reading a play about an egotistical noble, a comedy, while Lily is playing around with a pop-up book of siege engines. They discuss Mikilos' success and encounters Bandit Hunting. Munch, apparently, has taken to wearing a dress. Braelnoir arrives, in a happy mood and looking to make a purchase. Cryo fills them in on what happened at Merek's trial, and his punishment, a Geas. Mikilos discusses the downsides of this, both's Merek's world view and the general vile nature of the spell. Cryo seems suspicious, and asks him about his Charm Person experiments, heavily hinting he should dispell magic. He does so on her, causing some discomfort. Cryo asks for something stronger, and he sets up an anti-magic field. This has several effects, cancelling all the clothing dependent on the Anygarments sleeves of Cryo and Brael, suppressing the Charm Person on Braelnoir, and causing Cryo a lot of pain around her wings. She begs out, retreating to the Magical Mansion, while Braelnoir angry realizes she was about to get love potions for Lars while enchanted. She and Mikilos discuss strategies, and come to the conclusion it's better if Braelnoir doesn't know the plan, or she'll give it away. They are interrupted by Jedrek, an orc from a while ago who recognizes Braelnoir's voice but not her appearance. He asks after books, potentially magic items, and Braelnoir rounds out the evening with some war stories.
-=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A15: Mithralla Merchandise: Library *>--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Built back into the mountain, this room is cool and dry. Arcane globes provide soft illumination, and fire sources are strongly discouraged. The center of the room holds a pair of long tables, and a cabinet holding a crude card catalog. Many bookshelves are carved directly out of the walls, while stout wooden structures hold even more. Academic texts are of course in large number, but the shelves also hold a range of novels, poems, play scripts, and other works of entertainment. However the majority of the works held here are journals, diaries, letters, maps, and travel logs, organizied by location. Alexandros is the majority, but a vast number of exotic locations are represented. With minimal seraching, one can find a firsthand account of life most anywhere in the world.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Mikilos 6'8" 180 Lb Dawn Elf Male Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome. Braelnoir 5'11" 146 Lb Human Female A tall, pale Acanian woman, branded in silver. Jedrek 5'11" 220 Lb Orc Male A well dressed oruch with red mane-like hair. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPCS of Note =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Little Fang 'Lily' Kobold Female A carnation-scaled youngling, Cryo's daughter -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Mithrallas Merchandise
The library.
The best place for an aspiring bookwrym to be, and a good place for an exasperatingly energetic little mind to find a distraction.
Cryosanthia is reading. Not unusually, she's chosen a work of fiction. A play about a noble who pretends to be dying.
Little Fang has found the big book of siege engines. A pop-up picturebook created for gnome children by dwarves, or drawf children by gnomes. In either case, it's thick and durable and there are levers to pull on some of the pages, that make mock-fiery death rain down on scrambling victims.
Who might be goblins, or kobolds. Something filling the small, green, disposable niche of mini-monsters. Clearly, it's an older edition.
A small grey gnome wanders into the library, kitted for travel, but dusty enough is more likely arriving than setting out. Peering at the kobold with mild curiousity a few moments, he wanders over to the table across from Cryo, dropping off his slightly too large haversack before climbing up into a chair himself. "And which work has your attention this evening?
"It's, 'The Fox', by Johan Benson." Cryosanthia says, tilting her head and staring at the grey gnome. The haversack is noted. The whitescaled Sith'makar sits hunched forward. Extending upwards from her back, are two partial-arm things, which she mostly has shrouded in long sleeves.
"The characters are all named after animals. The main character pretends to be dying, and a bunch of his friends come and say how much they love him, hoping to get in his will."
She leans back, waves her hand a little, "When they're out of the room he jumps out of his deathbed and prances around, lots of energy, saying what he really thinks about them."
"It's a comedy, mostly, but a dark one."
The gnome nods, setteling back into the chair. "One of the theaters did a play based off it a while back, I don't recall which one now. Picked up the original work to see how it held up. Well, not the -original- work, those have been out of print for decades, but a fresh reprint."
Speaking of dark comedy....
Some time after the outer doors to the shop close, there's a call of, "Yo, anyone home?" in a familiar enough voice, Brae's for those who know her. The recent thespian. The sound of someone clomping around in hardsole boots, the rattle of segmented greaves.
"pssssheewww BLAAAAAHAH ahhhhhhh!" Lily manipulates something one of her pages, and a flaming ball lands in the middle of a bunch of peasants. She pulls a tab, and a bunch of flames pop up, which rock back and forth like waves at a theater production.
"Braelnoir!" Cryosanthia stands, eyeing the ceiling and shelves before she does. "We're in the library, come here!"
Grinning, she looks at the grey gnome. "So, are you Mikilos in disguise, or a friend?"
Lily seems to be waiting for Braelnoir to appear before she stops roasting peasants.
Mikilos blinks and glances down before tsking mildly and adjusting his hat. Which turns into a circlet as the rest of him also changes to his regular self. "Ah, sorry, was out bandit hunting and got used to being changed. Forgot to shift back."
Braelnoir follows the sound of Cryo's voice and eventually pushes open the door, throwin a smile wide to the gathered, "'ey, luvs, how's it goin'?" She has a particularly sunny disposition about her, and she starts to make the rounds, hugging the fam, then reaching out to bump Mikilos's arm with her knuckles, "Catch ya all at a bad time?"
Cryo glances at the haversack. "So... did you get any? Oh! You know I want a necklace of adaption? Should I put that order in?" Because, suffocating in a handy haversack is not how she wants her bucket-list to end, nor Lily's.
She spreads her hands across the pages, "Anyhow, the Fox does a lot of things with his will, including to trick women into his bed, and it's a classic Myrrish work."
"I think I'll have to write a play one day." She muses, then happily says, "Nope!" and puts her arms around Braelnoir.
Mikilos smiles and waves to Brae. "Nothing particular going on." He shakes his head to Cryo. "Nah, nothing. Met a few farmers traveling together warning of attacks, a patrol of Sith, Munch in a terrible old lady costume, but no sign of bandits. Also have heard rumors of kobolds in that area, but saw naught of them either."
Braelnoir gives Cryo a good squeeze, then tsks a bit, "Well, 'fore ya do that, luv, I was lookin' ta see if I could get Miki ta make somethin' fer someone." She smiles warmly, a roll of the shoulder. The visuals presented by Mikilos make the little lute in her head break a string and she nearly breaks her neck whipping around to blink his way, "Come again?" Blink-blink, "-Munch-??"
...
...BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAHAAAAA!
"Munch in a dress?" Cryosanthia has a similar expression, her mental record skipping tracks with a screech. "That's... that's... oh my scales. I saw MAC Bee get pinched but Munch is even more square."
She covers the top of her snout and closes her eyes, shaking her head.
Lily's slides off her chair and hugs Braenoir's leg, squeaking, "Tia Breyesss!"
"Wait, Kobolds?" Cryo's attention is instantly captured. "Any... more details? Especially Munch!"
Mikilos grins. "Munch. He's been trying to catch the bandits himself, so tried to disguise himself as a little old lady. Was NOT convincing. And very few details. Apparently a kobld tribe set up in the area, got accused of being bandits, and are upset about it."
Braelnoir chortles and all but curls around Lily as she hugs her leg, face flushed to the roots of her hair. She chokes off the guffaws, making litle stifled whimpery chuckles and hugs her niece warmly before planting a kiss on her head. She straightens, hand coming up to her face as the laughter escapes anew, but she's got the volume kiiiiind of under control as the tale continues.
"I'll... hmm. Everything I've heard is fewer and fewer sightings of them." Cryo says, carefully shifting over to her seat and settling back down. Her movements careful because of her wing-things. "Not as many jobs to clear them out going up."
And getting almost instantly taken down, if the whitescale has any opportunity to.
Lily squeal in delight, enjoying attention and points to her pop-up book, "Burrningss. Kaaaa-boooom!" Her trade seems to be improving.
Cryo looks at her youngling thoughtfully, "There was a... mmm, never mind, it was months ago." She inhales, air sucking around her teeth, "So. This one saw Merek's trial, and be glad you weren't there."
Mikilos frowns mildly. "They finally had it? Knew kept getting pushed back for one reason or another. Take it was a farce of justice?"
To be fair, burnings and ka-boom have been good for business in Brae's past.
She grins down to the Kobold, "Ka-boom? Oooh, boy, show me, luv!" she returns. She gets a couple steps when Cryo remarks about the trial, "I was gonna go, but he needed me so bad. 'sides, they was probly just gonna slap'm with a fine, right?" A blink, "What happened?"
The whitescale inhales, resting her elbows on the table and putting her hands over her eyes. Fingertips pressed to her temple, rubbing her eye-ridges, thumbs against her cheeks, she shakes her head. This is followed by a huge exhale. Oddly, the temperature remains the same around her.
"No... no... it's bad when the Magistrate is saying you should be quiet and let your counsel speak." She pulls her head back, letting her horns lie down along her neck, pulls under her eyes so the scales stretch taut. "Merek plead guilty to almost everything and kept digging himself deeper confessing to things."
Lily however, competes with her clutch-mother for attention. She stands on the bench and slides the big book of siege engines closer, and resets the page. She manipulates the pop-up so a trebuchet launches a flaming ball, which lands, and with another tab-pull, the pristine buildings are replaced with burning ones, and she has a dial to make mini-monsters on fire run around. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Ayyyyyyssss burrningsssss!" She hisses cheerfully, providing sound effects, and then looks up at Braelnoir and Cryo for approval.
Mikilos sighs, and grins. "So Merek being Merek. I'd make him a headband, but I'm not sure which trait he needs." He glances to the pop-up with amusement.
Braelnoir frowns and seems more and more grim as the story continues. Her attention splits as Lily pulls her toward the book and she does turn her eyes to the pop ups, "Ohhh, I ain't loaded one a'those in a while." she says thoughtfully, "We get us nice weather one'a these days, I'ma show ya how ta count fer windage." Won't that be nice?
SHe looks to Cryo and Mikilos, "So... he plead guilty.. an' then what?"
"That is good Lily." Cryo leans forward, nuzzling between the pinkscale's tiny horns. She gently strokes the back of her neck, "The Tornmawr is warming. We'll be able to build a sandcastle village. Then you can come out of the water like a giant kaiju and stomp all over them. Perhaps we can get some snaps and poppers so they explode when you step on them."
Lily stares at the best. Idea. Ever! Her eyes wide, she starts bouncing on the bench, "Now? Soon? Now Ssassa? Are now?"
"Sssssssss." The whitescale hisses soothingly, then thrums and strokes the kobold's nose, "later. Ssassa has to speak."
"Yes," Cryo says, her comment directed at Mikilos, evidenced by the serious tone and lack of mirth, "He just won't... even Silverguard Seldan seemed speachless. They wouldn't let me speak, and I'm not sure what I would have said. I mean, what did you get Mikilos, a fine?"
The whitescale turns to stare at the mercenary, sapphire eyes locking with golden wolfish ones, "They put a Gaes on him! To serve Alexandria, and its laws. Until... sometime! You would have exploded if..."
"Wait... which 'he', needed you? You didn't mean Merek, did you?"
Mikilos nods. "Fine, couple warnings, and some time off for sentence already served." He frowns darkly. "Geas are... bad. Too easy to get wrong. And too easy to circumvent on those who actually deserve them."
Braelnoir's spine turns into a ramrod and her eyes are wide, amber irises threaded with draconic gold, "WHAT!??" <draconic>
The mercenary glares, then, "What th'fuck iz'at shit??" she steps closer to Cryo, momentarily leaving Lily's study to the wayside, "How could they do that shit!? How could he -let them-!!" she roars.
Kobolds move quick when they're startled. Mikilos finds he has a carnation scaled limpet on his side of the table, ducked down she can just see over the edge. She stares, wide eyed at Braelnoir.
"Yes!" Cryo's attention whips back and forth between Mikilos and Braelnoir, "Yes! He Agreed to it! He didn't even argue it was cruel."
Now the temperature drops, "Seldan didn't even argue it! After Salina, after everything, after all those Pacts everyone was twisted into? This ... this was fine? I can't. I'm not. I'm never serving another. If I ever get one of those one me I want you to break enchantment and get me far away!" Her scales are sparkling, and her wings strain against the cloth covering behind her.
She's shaking her head like a nervous tick, "Merek... embraced it. Like... every time he thinks he's making a sacrifice to protect someone, without stopping to think if it's pointless or what it will cost him. He...just wouldn't.. not do it."
Mikilos gently places a reassuring hand on Little Fang, but is still rather upset himself. "I'm surprised they even suggested it... but not that he dove in head first. Seems to think suffereing is a zero sum game. If he takes it all, none left for others."
Braelnoir closes her fists tight, currently oblivious to the fact that she's frightened Lily. As it is, she seethes, breath quaking in and out before she brings her hands up to her face and drags her fingertips down along her skin, "GRaaaaaaaagh!" Her hands come down and she shakes her head with a sulphurous, "FUCK!"
Breathe....
"Cracked egg!" <draconic>
Whoa, more breathing, there, Brae....
She turns away, idly scratching at her arm, leaving little flecks of silver, "Sorry.... sorry....." A huff of breath, "Damnit!"
Merek, what the hell are you thinking.....?
"Sorry." A sigh, "I'm good... I'm good...." So good her hands cover her face again.
"Yes. Exactly." Cryo nods vigorously at Mikilos, focusing both her hands on him, "He could have had a fine, warnings, like you. I'm sure. I don't know how it could have been argued, but they said 'these are the charges', and he said 'I plead guilty to this and that, not guilty to those other ones' then went on to admit a bunch more stuff."
Then Braelnoir loses it, seems to lose it. Cryo's nostrils flare at the threat scent, instinctively putting her on edge for danger that isn't present. She's on her feet again, with a painful grimace as her developing wings wrench at her. "Sister! Just breath" She cautions. <draconic>
Another exhale to center herself, her scales still flashing with light. She pours more explanation on the conversation. "Once he opened up that box, he was done for. I have little idea of what assassination plot he's wrapped up in, but they..." another headshake, "... I don't know what they were thinking. What he was thinking."
Little Fang burrows her head into Mikilos' hand and squishes closer to his side. She also picks his pockets, the little opportunist.
Bits a sulfur, pinches of iron filings, bits of webbing, a couple feathers, a live spider in a glass vial. Wizard pockets contain all sorts of intresting stuff. Mikilos doesn't seem to notice. "Best can do now is find the exact wording of the geas, either make sure it isn't misused, or get it removed as mistaken."
Braelnoir's hands drop and she sighs, "What... assassination....?" she asks almost in a daze before she turns to the table. She blinks, where'd Lily....? The merc turns back toward the others, about to ask where she went, but seeing her burrowing into Mikilos, "Oh, Lily, hey... whatcha doin, luv.....?"
Lily starts spreading her findings out on the table. The spider in the vial interests her the most. She peers in close, staring at it. She point it out to Braelnoir, "Food."
"A noble... was killed by one of his friends, except she was framed and innocent, and her trial was..." Cryo looks over at Mikilos, "Well, it was a travesty of justice right? That's why everyone showed up to protest and things went badly?"
"I don't know Braelnoir, I don't know and they wouldn't let him present whatever evidence he had about that, because it was an unrelated trial." It's definitely cooler, "This city better watch out or it'll find itself under some horned-helmet dungeon keeper for provoking something worse than a riot."
The twinkling of her scales is fading. She eases herself down on the bench again, "So, break it, if the wording is bad. IF. If Merek lets you, and he might not, if the wording is bad. So how to do you tell? Detect Magic?"
Mikilos tsks mildly, tapping the pilfered vial. A common cellar spider, probally more in the libaries corners. "Component, for Spider Climb spell." He shakes his head to Cryo. "Would need a far deeper scan to find the wording, but would think it recorded in the trial logs."
"Wait, 'zat the trial she was on about?" Brae wonders softly, "Had a friend come by.... spooky gal, but not a bad sort. All outta measure about this trial." She shakes her head again and wanders over to Lily to reach out to gently stroke her headscales, "Sorry'f I spooked ya, luv...." Cryo's remarks get a nod and she folds her arms, her eyes back to normal, though her skin has a subtle sheen to it, "If that geas shit starts makin more appearances in law, we'll have one fer sure."
"They... sent him to have it applied. So, specifically what the wizard said wasn't in the trial, just... y'know, the intent." Cryosanthia says, sounding dubious about a system that seemed so fixated on specifics that suddenly diverges into intentions.
"Um, I guess." The whitescale looks at Braelnoir with a small shrug, "I've only been pulled in peripherally. I don't know who is involved. Although. The one who made my boots. She's the one that was framed."
Lily nods, hissing, "Isss okaay." She's checking Mikilos' pockets for more things, and seems to have understood the idea of spell components.
Cryo sighs again, working her shoulders, looking at her scale-sister, "So who were you helping? I know you wanted to be there, but it's not your fault. They were after him for..." Another shrug, and she taps at the play in front of her, "You know how nobles get when someone pees in their morning flakes? It felt like that. Some high muckity-muck was made to look bad and wasn't letting it go."
"Fuckin' cake eaters, yeah...." Brae says softly, "Almost's bad as gaddamn mousers." She shakes her head again and she smiles, "Oh, m'friend Lars." She reaches into a pouch on her belt, "Was lookin' inta somethin', said I knew a guy." then holds out a piece of paper to Miki, "Can ya make a couple a'these, luv?"
Mikilos tsks mildly. The majority of his components are harmless, but they are carefully organized, and rather need to be. Instead he offers Lily a small bag of rocks. Semi-precious stones, a fair step below gem quality, but still quite pretty. "I'm not sure the full tale myself. Murder of a nobel, and an adventurer framed. The whys and details I never knew. Anyway, depending on who cast the geas, could be quite sloppy, or very tight, depending. I'm inclined to think a court comissioned caster knows what they're doing." Curious, he looks over the ofered paper. "Will be a few days, just took a fresh comission, but can take a look..."
"Oh. Lars." It's a lot cooler. Turning to cold, and a halo of hoarfrost is spreading out around Cryosanthia, emphasizing her rear on the bench, her arms resting on the table. Her breath is visible.
"Mikilos, remember you told me about testing Charm Person spells on your friends, and the results?" She glances meaningfully at Braelnoir, "Lars does those experiments too, but he doesn't ask the volunteers first."
Little Fang is frantically looking between Braelnoir, her Ssasaa, and Mikilos. The Dawn Elf is the warmest thing and she's stuck close, stealing heat now as the temperature drops.
Cryo loops her left hand through an arcane motion and her highlight scales flicker again. Instead of swirling out her arm to her fingertips, the magical potential seems to wander all over her. "Scales rot. Cold is affecting my magic too now? Mikilos... can you...?"
Mikilos quirks a brow at Braelnoir, eyeing the paper again. "I'd made such before, and am quite aware the potential missteps can cause. May I ask what you have in mind?" He looks to Cryo, still quite comfortable in his magic robes. "What do you need?" Fireball in this situation would be overkill.
"Hey, now that ain't fair, luv. He means well, but he don't always think things through." Brae says defensively, holding out a placating hand toward her sister. She looks to Mikilos as he asks about them, "He said he needed'm s'he could fix a couple things. He probably wants ta buy his way outta some scrape'r other. Some folks get a little pissed at'm sometimes."
"Rrr...no, don't want to burn down your library." Cryo says, straightening, breathing and making that odd humming noise in her throat again. The spreading frost around her retreats, leaving cold wet marks.
"Just a Dispell." The whitescale says, looking at Mikilos and nudging her head towards Braelnoir again, "shouldn't hurt and things tend to go hot and cold with Lars."
Mikilos smiles faintly. "Part of my testing was if it mattered knowing you were charmed. So sometimes my test subjects didn't know. I did, however, always have a chaperone. And sometimes a test subject who only thought they were the chaperone. The double blind assurances got complicated." He hands back the paper. "Anyway, will be about a month before my crafting que opens up again. Likely better to try the alchemists in the Lower Market. Might charge slightly more, but are likely to have stock on hand." He eyes Cryo a moment, but complies, casting a straightforeward Dispel Magic upon her, not entirely clear what's to be accomplished.
Braelnoir blinks and looks to Cryo, "Burn down the whatnow?" she wonders. There's a look between the two casters, then Lily to see what the Kobold's gotten up to, then, "Yeah, I'd kill the bastard done me with something like that."
Lily detaches from Mikilos as her Ssassa warms up a little. She looks at her book, there's sure to be more siege engines on another page, and screaming death, which will be much easier on her sensibilities. She's already stretching across the table to snag the book and pull it towards herself.
The dispell magic washes over Cryosanthia, who doesn't seem much different. She rolls her shoulders, grunts, "That made my back ache. I wonder sometimes if I need to be hit with a whole lot of magic to finish popping whatever is stuck. Half tempted to go hug the egg."
She arches, stretching, there are popping noises, but no change in her, or her partial wings. "So, since it was a double blind, you'd have to do the other one too, right?" Again, a long look at Braelnoir.
"What was Lars looking to buy?"
Mikilos frowns mildly. "Don't hug the Egg, we don't know what that will do. But, might try spending some time at a nexus point or something. Double blind in that both test subjects were told the other person would be enchanted and to watch them, while actually being enchanted themselves, as watched over by a third, undisclosed observer who was mostly watching me to make sure I kept everything proper."
Braelnoir shrugs, "I'unno, he made me promise not ta look." she says with a odd little smile, "He's wierd, sometimes, but, sometimes folks just don't get'm, yanno?" She considers Cryo, then, on her talk about needing magic and she ponders, "What kinda magic ya need, sis?"
"It's okay Mikilos," The whitescale leans and pats the back of the Dawn Elf's hand. Her wingspars sway above, "I'm not so deluded to think it will treat me better because it triggers instincts, nor will I take crazy risks without precautions and care, and the help of friends."
"A nexus point sounds good. I think I'm supposed to go investigate one with Griva and Cesran soon. So that's where Leylines intersect? Then... just sit on it?"
Cryo looks over at Braelnoir, "I don't know. Just thought a lot of magic might push open the floodgates, move whatever is stuck."
Lily has flipped over the page, to what seems to be a battering ram and a portcullis, gate and drawbridge. Cryo snorts happily, and gazes at Mikilos once again, "So, if Lily is the third, undisclosed observer, then you'd have to dispell the enchantment on Braelnoir too, right? Also, you always read the notes, in case they say 'shoot the messenger'."
Important Speaker-Caste tip!
Mikilos frowns again, eyeing Braelnoir for a long moment. "...he wants a pair of Love Potions." He smiles, nodding to Cryo. "If leylines are streams of magic, nexus points are pools. Usually where one or more connect, but on occasion just randomly along a single line. There's likely a logic to them, but using flows of the Veil and currents of other dimensions." Glancing to Brae again, the elf considers a few moments, picks up the small container of iron filings, and tosses them into the air, murmuring rapidly.
A large bubble forms around the elf, taking up most of the room. Most people wouldn't notice, but things are a liitle less bright, a little less polished. A little less magical.
GAME: Mikilos casts Antimagic Field. Caster Level: 15 DC: 25
Braelnoir hmmm's softly, "Well.. I been experimentin', I think mebbe I can hit ya with a growin' spell if ya think it'll help?" She frowns, "I -promised-, Cryo." she says firmly, then sighs with a little wan smile, "It meant so much to'm..."
The shopping list, draws her attention back toward Mikilos, "What, those're actchally a thing?" A glance to Cryo, then, "I thought that's just Crimson Pen fodder?"
She's suddenly a little less dressed.
Her equipment belts, weapons, breastplate, ring and greaves are still there, but her outfit beneath is returned to it's natural form; some sheer Anygarment Sleeves, and a daringly cut pair of black leather briefs.
The Korite staggers slightly and shakes her head with a vaguely foggy, "whoa... wha'n fuck...?"
"Uuuuuhn!" Cryo says suddenly, stiffening and straightening up with a start. "Ow. Ow. Ow it won't stop. Ahhh. Gnn."
Her pupils have gone wide and dark, she holds her arms stiffly out in front of her, hands splayed. She's also a lot less dressed. Has on a nice corset still, to go with her sleeves, gloves and boots. Those scale-tight pants, aren't, and there's nothing else. It leaves her a little exposed. Not that she cares, Cryosanthia seems in pain and a slight panic. "Ah! My back, all my muscles are cramped! They're locked, I can't, I can't move!"
It's as if her spine had solid bars running through it, she's stiff with the only movement being in her legs. Backpedalling, she gasps, "Miki, where's the edge?" She makes a hissing sound of pain.
Lily is scrambling over the table, "Ssassaa!"
Mikilos tsks mildly. "Yes, Love Potions are a real thing. The Crimson Pen version are fuzzy on the details, the real version is basically a Charm spell in liquid form. A spell I suspect you might have been under. I appoligize for the sudden casting, but need to be sure I got the charm and not something else." he glances to Cryo. "Ow, sorry, sorry! Door, there, I'd help but it follows me." To be fair, the elf is hit as well, though to minor degree. Few enchantments active, but he is an inherantly magical person.
Braelnoir moves to Cryo as she is in distress, "Here, wanme see if I can loosen up some o'yer muscles, luv?" her eyes full of concern. She tries to help keep her sister steady with a, "Easy, easy! Slowly now, turn ta yer left... gotta chair behind-!"
She stops and looks at Mikilos with an ominous, "What."
That.... son of a bitch....
Cryo knocks over the chair. Lingering skills from the Fernwood coming into play, her tail catches and overturns it out of her way. She steps back from Braelnoir, shaking her head, "No it's not, not a massage fix. Something's wrong, they're bunches and bunches and just solid."
She staggers another step to the door, nodding to Mikilos. Lily is trailing after her, book and pilfered items forgotten. She sounds terrified, "Ssassa? What iss... wrong?"
"It's ok Lily, I'm fine, I'm fine." Cryo gasps, lying poorly, "I need to get out of range. The Magic Mansion, the hot tub, I'll be there. Come on Lily, we're going to the hot tub, we're going to swim."
The whitescale makes a very pained smile, nothing like her usual careful ones. Terrifying as it might seem, it doesn't alarm the little Kobold.
The two slip out.
Mikilos watches Cryo depart with a pained expression. One that does not ease as he turn focus to Brae again. "I wasn't certain, but pretty confidant you were enchanted... I also didn't think the anti-magic would hurt Cryo. uncomfortable, yes, but not painful."
Braelnoir reaches after her sister as she makes her retreat, looking concerned, but looking back to mikilos, then she takes a knee, "Little Fang, keep your nest mother safe. I will join you, soon." <draconic>
The Korite rises agan and she doesn't dare breach the... shelter Mikilos's presence is affording her, "Yeah... no...." her hand comes up to her face, "Kor! He's done me like this fer days! He's still got Star! Damnit!" She stamps her foot, but inside the field her body isn't transformed in her anger, "I ain't... sure how ta help her."
Mikilos considers, taking his seat again and wrapping his robe a little tighter. It's still quite comfortable, but not magically so. "Do you know where to find him? A meeting place or some such?"
"He's gotten cagey 'bout that." Brae replies softly, rubbing her chin, "Usually wants me ta meet'm in te gardens or the Market. I never see'm cast, so he must hit me from the shadows or somethin'."
Mikilos nods. "Entirely possible. Or a magic item of some sort. A ring that enchants the next person touched, or whatever. And unfortunately is a grey legal area to start with. Charms don't force people into anything... just make them far more likely to agree to something they -might- have agree to before."
Braelnoir nods and massages the bridge of her nose, "I'ma kill'm." she says softly. Another shake of the head, then, "I bet I know what he wanted ta do with them potions, now..."
Mikilos nods. "I can only speculate his plan, but the general idea is pretty straight foreward. They aren't exactly a versitile item." He considers. "Though might be able to subvert the plan, now that we're aware of it."
Braelnoir folds her arms, "I'm listening...?" she starts, wiggling her toes beneath her greaves, "Oh... how long's this spell a'yers gonna keep me thinkin straight?"
Mikilos considers. "Spell can last about two hours, though being aware of the charm should be a help in breaking free. Sadly, not a certainty. And while the charm might run out while still repressed, it may still have hours left before it ends. Anyway, as to the plan, offer a different sort of potion, and just say it's a Love Potion. Not certain what to swap in for best effect."
Braelnoir hmmm's softly, "Sounds good on paper, but if I get stupid again an' I know it ain't the right stuff, won't I blow the whole scheme?"
A knuckle raps against the entryway to the library as Jedrek calls into the room. "Am I interrupting?" his tone dull as orange eyes scan deep into the room. "I had just heard of this shop a while ago, and thought to... investigate." his left thumb soon hooked in his wide belt. Braelnoir however does get a raised brow after after she's noticed. "Do I know you?" her voice having that familiar tone as he walked in, but the form doesn't fit his recollection.
Mikilos frowns. "That... is a good point. In retrospect, might have been better to not let you know." He perks slightly at the new arrival, and raises a hand in greeting. "Hello! You're welcom to enter, but be aware is a anti-magic field in effect. Shouldn't damage any equipment you might have, but will turn it off. In any case, how may I be of assistance?"
Braelnoir glances doorward at the vaguely familiar voice and she looks over toward the door, "Oh, hey, luv, how ya been?" She looks down at herself, noting absently what could be construed as her state of 'dress' (Risque leather briefs, plus her weapon belts, armour and weaponry) and shrugs it off.
Hmm.
Back to the door, unabashed, "It's Braelnoir. Ahh... last time ya saw me, I's all silver an was tryin' ta eat with paws."
Mikilos has her attention once more at that point, then, "Probly. Mebbe we can figger out a way ta spring soethin' on'm when he comes fer me, next."
Jedrek huffs a laugh at Mikilos, nodding his head. "Fair enough. Thanks for the warning, Ser." his smile flashing a fang as he crosses the threshold taking a moment to look about the library. "I am not successful enough to own anything so fancy yet... but, someday."
To Braelnoir, Jedrek nods slowly. "I do remember something akin to that. The Fernwood. Well, it's good to see you are... well, is this you?" the orc suddenly laughing. "Apologies."
Mikilos nods to Jedrek. "Well, when the time comes can provide for a wide range of items, crafted for your custom needs. Most of our weapons are made in shop, so can have something that best suits your particular style. Armor and other items frequesntly get locally, but can still customize as needed. Have some other options if happen to be a caster and want to do your own work."
Braelnoir shrugs a bit with a wry smile, "Well... seems ta be, now, anyway. As close ta me as I been fer a while. Was a brunette, originally." Among other things, but still. She pads a bit to one side so she isn't between the fellows so they can talk shop without do so through her, her greaves' rattle making an interesting sound with her bare feet.
On the apology, she waves her hand absently, "Donn't sweat th'little stuff, luv. Got biz, it's alright, we can finish up later. No worries."
Jedrek shakes his head to Mikilos. "Nah, Ser. I'm a scrapper. Jedrek the scrapper." a meaty hand raised to show the roughened and hardened knuckles of his fist. It's an odd contrast to the way he dresses, but his smile doesn't falter. "Not a bit of magic in these bones. Though I'm sure coin is good enough when the time comes." casting a wink to Braelnoir as he settles in and takes a step towards a shelf. "Do you sell books by chance too?"
Mikilos shakes his head. "The library is open to the public, and you're welcome to make copies, but the books stay." He looks to Brae, and sighs. "Can reset the magic, try breaking the enchantment directly. is a chance it won't work, but Charm isn't a very powerful spell, so odds are good."
Braelnoir hmm's and nods, flushing a slght bit, then ventures over to look at the book Lily was poking at earlier, "We can poke at it some, yeah. Couple o'things I's curious about but they can wait."
Jedrek nods, his chuckle coming from behind his grin. "You shouldn't of told me that." minding his own business as they discuss other topics he seems to have little interest in. "Do you have any history tomes the city library does not? You seem like a man who would know his collection."
Mikilos considers a moment before nodding to Jedrek. "A few. Not much for direct textbooks, but i maitain a large collection of diaries and journals from other lands and times. Not typically as directly useful, but can offer some tidbits that formal texts overlook."
Braelnoir flips through a few pages, playing carefully with the popup towers and fireballs. Yes, she even makes soft little 'eeeee!' sounds as the mock fireballs land amongst the target zones.
What?
As the details of their business expounds, she sort of lets it sift into the background for now, considering the ways out of her current situation, trying to find a counter fot eh scenario that'll work....
Jedrek turns a glance to Braelnoir as she makes sounds, and plays with the popup-book with a bit of interest. "Don't let me distract you from your discussion. It's not my concern, and I can leave for now. My interest lies in other things." smirking back to Mikilos. "Diaries are the best... they give you context to places, and things that some texts can't."
Mikilos nods in agreement. "Tend to ramble about non-issues, but the details can be unmatched."
Braelnoir looks up as it sounds like she's being talked to directly and gives an impish little smile toward Jedrek. She nods, and observes, "There's a few times back in the day, ya get a few diaries for the lay folk, ya could figger out troop schedules, least in parts." She carefully closes the book, but isn't sure whence it came, so she leaves it set on the table. "Like, this one time out near Selentia...."
Fade to war story...
OOC
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "RL, it's Volpone by Ben Jonson, written in 1605 or so, contemporary of shakespear"
<OOC> Braelnoir says, "Your creatures need a bigger lair!"
<OOC> Cryosanthia is sooo tempted to throw a meta Frank Frazette comment in.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "ie: She has her mithril chain shirt, but that also only goes down so far. Clearly much like Frank Frazette she has issues with wearing pants into combat"