Not Evil

SUMMARY Murder and Erakirak explore the Undertunnels, and Rak shares some reassuring facts about his bow, which has recently manifested a good alignment and a dedication to protecting people from the undead. 

An absolutely miserable day out means that many folks prefer not to travel outside if they don't have to. A certain little Gobbo is one of them, Murder happily exploring the underbelly of the Aerie. Currently, she explores a series of small caverns, carved to accomodate supplies. Of course, she scurries along in pitch black.

Some people don't get that choice, really. Rak has spent most of today patrolling the Felwood, whose depredations the Rangers defend against come rain or sleet or gloom of night, or something like that... there was a little poem about it he learned during his initial training but he's mostly forgotten it. Regardless, he and Silverwing return to the Aerie cold and wet and thoroughly miserable, and he is looking forward to some cuddling with his favorite goblin... but instead there's a note, indicating that she's exploring the Undertunnels.

Which, of course she is.

Rak indulges in grumbling for a while, then dries himself off and changes clothes and heads down into the caverns after her. Fortunately, since not many people come down here -- and VERY few of them goblins! -- her tracks are easy to follow.

Easy to follow could mean a trap!

The Gobbo might be easy to follow, however, she likely knows Erakirak is nearby once he finds the unfinished caverns. Her mischievous giggle is hear nearby.

It's not like he's difficult to spot, with a burning rock flying around his head lighting up the cavern. Trying to outstealth someone with darkvision when you yourself lack it is rarely a good idea, really. But he's not surprised to find himself led on a chase. "Oh me, oh my!" he says to himself, a little too loudly, his voice echoing off the cavern walls. "Wherever could she have gone?"

"Behind you!", she says from nearby, accompanied by the pitter patter of her bare feet on the stone floor. She throws her arms up in and raaaaars.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!" Rak screams. The thing about an Egalrin scream... a full-throated one, anyway... is that it's polytonal. A trained Egalrin singer can use this racial trait to harmonize with their own voice, managing choral effects that other species require several performers to achieve. That said, Rak is decidedly _not_ a trained singer, and in his case the result is vocal discord. Especially as it echoes off the walls and he mock-cowers.

Murder squeaks and covers her ears, thumping into the Egalrin and falling to her knees. "Yeek, okay okay...!"

"Hey, did you hear that? Someone's in trouble!" comes a quiet voice from back towards the residential tunnels. "Nah, replies another. That's just the goblin chick and her boyfriend. They do this sometimes. Ignore it." Rak hears this and bursts out laughing. "They've got our number," he says to Murder, a little chagrined.

The Gobbo slugs him, not very hard, in the stomach, and stands up to cling to him. "They're just jealous that we are young and lead exciting lives.", she says with a giggle.

"We just don't wanna HEAR your young and exciting lives!" a voice comes back from the distance. "Yeah! Get off our lawns!" The amusement in their voices is unmistakable.

Rak just tries to keep a straight face, not too successfully.

Murder huffs noisily. "If they're lucky, their wives won't find out what they're doing out here alone.", she whispers loudly. She thumps his chest, again not too hard, when he makes faces, as she struggles not to laugh.

Erakirak snorts. "You have a dirty mind."

She grins toothily. "I have dirty other things too. But those two nosy birdies should be more polite."

"True," Rak admits. Then, changing the subject, "oh! I've been meaning to tell you! I... um, I don't think my bow is evil."

Both of Murder's eyebrows raise up, and her head cants slightly to one side. "Oh? How have you decided this? Did it tell you so?"

"Not... exactly? But we were fighting a shade in the Felwood that had attacked some villagers, and, I mean, you know how they just kind of shrug off normal weapons? Well, the bow just seemed... intent, somehow, y'know? Like it wanted to make sure that thing couldn't hurt anyone else. And all of a sudden my arrows were hurting it... like, more than I'd expect. The cleric I was with said they were good-aligned, like they'd been blessed or something. So..." he shrugs, "I think it probably isn't evil?"

Murder grins then and nods. "Well, that's a bit of a relief then, yes? Not worried now that it'll try to take over your mind, and then I'd have to burn it?" She wraps her arms about him as far as she can and squeezes. "I wonder how far that can go? How tough a thing can your bow pierce?"

"Would you really burn my mind? Oh! The bow, you mean." He nods. "Yeah, it's kind of a relief," he laughs, returning the hug. "And... well, I mean, it's not THAT much stronger than a regular bow. It hits a little harder, strikes a little truer... and there's that electrical thing it started doing a little while ago. But it's not like I can punch through armor or anything."

Murder hmms and stares at him a moment. "Yes the bow, you goober!", she says with a huff, stomping one of her bare feet upon the ground. "I wouldn't hurt you, on purpose." She nods then and hmmms. "I've been practicing with the little bow that you got me, but I do not think I will be as good a shot as you are."

Erakirak offers her his bow. "Wanna practice?"

Murder hmms and takes up his bow for a moment. "I don't know if I am strong enough to pull your bow.", she says. "Though I suppose I could get a few pieces of gear to make me stronger. Perhaps I should have done that instead of getting the hat." The Gobbo taps the small brooch in her hair, shaped like a monarch butterfly.

Erakirak nods. "Oh, right, that makes sense," he says, putting the bow away again and flexing ostentatiously. "It's OK, I'll protect you," he adds, teasing.

"Besides, I like the hat," he adds after a moment's pause.

Murder tilts her head to the other side, her pupils dilating until the red of her iris is almost all gone. "You mean, I will protect you, right?", she says with a dangerous tone in her voice. Which vanishes as she grins to his comment about liking the hat. "Oh, what do you like about it?"