River Cookout

Towering white clouds slowly float by above, the sky blue enough to be painful to look at for long. The heat is almost sweltering, and the beach has more than a few citizens looking to cool off.

A distance away from the bridge, where it is a little quieter, a blue smudge casts a shadow. A large, blue blanket has been stretched out on the sand, and another has been raised above it, held up by two sticks at one end, and held down by two rocks at the other. There's room for at least three people under the shade it provides, but currently only two people occupy it. A smaller form with blue skin, in a swimsuit that almost perfectly matches her skin tone, and a taller woman in black, with a mask that covers her face.

"Well of course. All of my friends, so far. Well, there are a few others but..." The Gobbo rolls onto her full stomach, and crawls to the back, where the two large blankets meet. She pulls the lower one back a little, revealing a driftwood board that covers a small hole. From there she pulls a pouch, retrieves one small object from it, and puts everything back.

"This is for you.", Irshya says softly, offering up a shark tooth to the woman. "I wanted to give you one before, but I have a rule against purposefully pulling out teeth. They have to get loose and fall out."

Bina's lips are vissible beneath the mask and they curl into a smile as she reaches out and takes the tooth from Irshya. "This is one of yours then?" She studies the tooth in her hand, turning it over from one side to the next and nods. "Thank you, Irshya. I very much appritiate it. I'll have to make a bracelet or necklace from it."

Burai swims on the river surface, only not in his normal form but that of an alligator. He's hard to make out at first, as most of body is just under the surface save for nostrils and an occasional flash of spiked back or tail. He has to swim actively with the current to control his direction, but when he reaches the picnic area the waters are sheltered and much calmer and he coasts to the shore.

"Welcome to the Order of the Tooth, officially.", Irshya says with a giggle. "I mean, you were always a part of it. But unless I start pulling my own teeth out somehow... and that would be cheating." The Gobbo settles back down, moving to curl up beside Sabina. "I have some coin, now. Not a lot, but some. Not going to freeze to death in winter, I think."

Bina is oblivious to the shape in the water. There aren't any major preditors like that in the river.. she thought. Or else she might not have stepped foot in it the day before.

She reaches over and boops Irshya on the nose. "No, you won't for sure. I've been working on getting us the workplace I was speaking to you about before. I've been making some promising headway. We shall see. But even if that falls through, the rest of us would make sure you weren't sleeping out here."

Burai emerges from the water and climbs up onto the shore, changing back to his normal half-oruch shape. Water drips and pours from him. He uses his fingers and palms to wipe water from his face and his bald pate. He glances over at the lean-to and the speaking figures briefly. Then he looks away and sluices water off of his arms and breastplate. By now a puddle has formed under where he stands. He steps out of it and further onto the shore, dripping only a little now.

Irshya squeaks at being booped on the nose, and playfully snaps at Sabina's finger, though doesn't try particularly hard to catch it. "Bina!", she says with a giggle. She goes quiet then, her teeth being bared, as Burai is noticed changing from 'gater form to his Half-Oruch form. The Gobbo wiggles up against Sabina defensively.

Bina turns her head to catch sight of the gator and then Burai. The tightness and readiness to run eases down into a sigh. "You sure know how to make an enterence, Burai. I hope the day finds you well?" She looks over towards the river then and ponders. "Are there any other gators in the river?"

Burai pauses. He looks at both again and then turns back to glance at the water behind. "...I haven't seen any. Not in this river. They prefer slower waters." His gaze turns to a boat. "And less traffic." He seems bemused at some thought. "I don't swim these waters normally..." he looks at Irshya. "You would know more about the river than I."

The Gobbo slowly closes her mouth, and nods to Burai. "I swim here every day.", she says softly. Her tail flicks a few times. "Irshya no say, people hunt them for leather. You should be careful, someone hunt you to make shoes and a purse." Irshya sighs lightly and attempts to move closer still to Sabina. "There are few.", she says after a lengthy pause.

Bina looks betweent he two and then nods slowly. "I'll.. remember that next time I swim..err..pretend to swim here. Thank you." She gives Irshya a minorly ammused smile. "Irshya, this is Burai. Burai, this is Irshya, priestess of Rada. You may remember that we've traveled together before." She says to Irshya. "No need to get riled, I think? Burai honors the world."

Irshya eyes Burai curiously for a short bit, before she nods to Sabina. "Irshya remembers now. Not riled. Simply saying he should be careful when pretending to be creatures." She glances at the Half-Orc and nods. "That is good." She struggles to stand and wobbles her way to Burai, where she offers a curtsey. "Hello Burai, is nice to meet you. Again."

Bina watches the two and smiles where she lays on her side. "It's good to see you Burai. Are you patroling the river or hunting along it's waters for your supper?" Bina asks. "Irshya often swims here and gets her food from the waters. At least until the waters run cold this winter time. And then we plan on bieing snug within the city. Which I know is not your way.." She trails off appoligeticly.

"I am...learning." Burai replies. "When I first gained the ability to change my shape, I became animals my size. Or smaller. I moved more like an oruch than the form I was in. But as I try more I learn more." He pauses. He's not used to discussing the subject. Or maybe he's not used to talking in general. "I don't pretend to be creatures. I become them."

Irshya nods to Sabina. "Does the river freeze in winter?", she wonders of the woman, and also looks to Burai. "Irshya wonders, then, what happens if someone kill you when you are fish? Do you stay fish and be cooked and eaten?"

Bina blinks. "I'm not sure? Likely some of the edges freeze? If it was truely a long horrid spell of cold it might freeze all over but flow underneath?" She looks to Burai and allows him to say one way or the other as well as explain about his shaping abilitiy.

She herself is is the one residing in the shade while the other two talk. Her peacock rests on a rock nearby.

Burai stares at Irshya at the questions of dying in a different shape. Not disturbed at the question, but confused. He shrugs and starts to say something. But then the topic changes to the river freezing. "I can't imagine this much water turning to ice. Yes, maybe the surface can freeze, while the deeper waters continue to flow." He looks at Irshya. "If you swim every day you can find out next winter. And tell us."

Making his way down the river bank comes another figure, although Zayn appears to have forgone his coat and breastplate and is instead wearing the red sash on his left arm over just a simple white shirt. Despite that, there is some evidence of the heat on his face as a few beads of sweat trickle down his temples and through his beard. As he gets closer, it becomes clear he's quietly singing a song from back home in the Vast to himself. That's probably for the best as he may not be a terrible singer, but neither is he particularly good. His course was clearly one passing nearby the already established group on the bank rather than to intercept, but he slows in his walk to offer them a grin and calls out, "Well met! Great day for a swim, isn't it?"

The mighty Tornmawr is not frozen, now, of course, though it does serve as a respite for the hazy heat of the day. A sith-makar, sun scintillating off of the silver scales amidst the black, careens downriver from the north. The comparatively small sith appears to sit upright, just at water level, with legs mostly covered yet tail exposed. The positioning appears quite odd until a far larger, black-scaled tail is seen to sway through the water behind.

The Gobbo blinks at Burai and shrugs. "I suppose, if I am here during winter. And not hibernating in our building." She eyes the figure coming up the beach, and she waddles back under the shade provided by the blanket. To settle upon her side beside Sabina. She nods to Zayn when he finishes speaking. "Rada's blessings upon you.", she says cheerfully to Zayn. "It is a very nice day for swimming."

Bina offers lazy waves of hello to those arriving, both swimming and walking. "Greetings to you both." She says with a smile. Her mithral coyote mask hiding her upper face from view. To the swimmer she calls out a lighthearted warning. "I've jsut been told that there are a few aligators that call the river home. Take care to watch out for them if you're swimming."

Burai's eyes crinkle in amusement and he glances back at the river. Yes, swimming the river seems far more popular than he ever realized. The expression deepens into a small smile when he notices the Sith - or pair of Sith, he soon realizes - also in the water.

Rocky is no alligator. He is a pretty massive meat eating lizard, heavily armored, at that, but he's not in the river. Not yet anyway. Instead the Sith is just strolling along the park path, peering towards the beach with idle curiousity.

The ...water-sledding sith hears the calls and waves claws at those on the shore. Both sets, in fact, until a wobble and tip cause them to rapidly lower to grab down at the water in front of him to regain balance. The hold holding claws then tug towards the shore, causing path of rider and 'craft' to turn in kind. As both approach, it becomes more clear that the rider is quite small, perhaps three feet from snout to tailtip.

Once in the shallows, he begins to rise up out of the water completely, lifted upon the shoulers of a far larger sith-makar. Judging by the small one's grip, he is anchored to his transport, and drives the same, via horns. While water sluices from her scales, Un'eth (aka the craft), dips her snout to those present.

"Peace on your nests," she offers as greeting.

"Peace! Peace! Peace! Peace! Peace!" her rider adds exuberantly, with each in sight deserving of their own... or he simply wants to be sure that he conveys the message.

The Gobbo is up and off like a shot, then, heading for the water. She passes by Un'eth, offering blessings of Rada as she goes. Splashing into the shallows, Irshya submerges, with only the wake of her fin and tail to indicate her progress. She soon zipping about underwater.

"Greetings," Burai offers to Un'eth. He glances at the smaller Sith and replies, "Yes. Peace to you as well." Then the half-Oruch's gaze slides to Rocky, before looking back.

Rocky chuffs in amusment, bowing politely to the pair from the water. "rainbow rainbow hiss chomp click rainbow click growl click sizzle click hiss" Turning to the non-sith present, his snout dips again. 'And peace unto your nests as well.'

The little one beams happily, tail swaying and flicking with energy, mostly across Un'eth's back. "Many enjoy the Tornmawr this day," she notes her observations. "It is full and strong."

The wee fin and tail continue to move in the water, seemingly at random, before they disappear entirely. Several minutes later, the fin and tail return, heading for the shoreline.

Burai looks at the smaller Sith and then asks, "Are you here to enjoy the waters?" He looks at Un'eth now. "Or to learn as well?" he guesses.

Rocky trundles down onto the sand, watching the fin and tail in the water with mild curiousity.

Un'eth thumps her tail in affirmative emphasis, even as she dips her snout. Her passenger follows suit, just with repetition of both. "Ssa. We are here to enjoy the water, sun, and also to learn. This one," her eyes roll upwards briefly, "would see, hear, and smell all that exists."

The small form reaches the shallows, and the Gobbo stands, a large fish in her mouth. She splashes ashore and gives herself a shake, before she returns to the small leanto made of blankets. Irshya pulls the fish from her mouth, and grins to Sabina. "Dinner for tonight!". Turning, she eyes the newcomers and offers a very shy wave. "Irshya greets you and offers blessings of Rada."

Sabina had been daydreaming as the others about her spoke or swam. When Irshya brings out a fish and talks of dinner she smiles. "You know.." ,she says looking about. "There are plenty of folk here. The day is hot. The water cool. Perhaps this would be both time and place for a party of sorts to happen. Fishers catch fish. Some of use will cook them. I'll go get some drink and other needful things and we can cook everything here along the bank."

Rocky continues to peer with interest, having never seen a hydro-gobbo before. Then again, he'd never seen an elf, orc, egalrin, or war golem before comming to Alexandros, so all sorts of things new to him. "Greetings. This One is called Rocky." He perks slightly at talk of a party.

"That is good," Burai nods at the smaller Sith. Then he nods with his head towards Rocky. "It's good to see what every part of the land has to offer." He turns towards Sabina and then says slowly, "You're going to cook for everyone?" he seems momentarily surprised at the though but then nods. "It's a good idea." He looks between the water and the shore and then notes, "We'll also need a great fire."

The Gobbo sets the fish down in the shade, and looks to Sabina. She steps closer and lowers her voice. "What is a party?", she wonders. "And does Irshya need to catch more fish?" She turns to look at Rocky and grins toothily at the Sith-makar. "Irshya think your name suits you well." Irshya looks then to Un'eth and the little silvery Sith on her shoulders. "Taking your kin for a swim?", she wonders of the ebony-scaled Sith.

Bina fets to her feet and nods to the gobbo. "We'll need many fish to feed everyone, yes. A party can mean several things. A group that you adventure with. Or it can mean a celibration of some sort. In this case a celebration that the day is fine and the water cool and we are alive." She grins and shrugs as she looks to Burai, "I'm not the best cook if I'm honest but I'm willing to try."

Rocky chuffs, considering a few moments. "Party is, celebration. Maybe food, maybe music, maybe dance, maybe beer, maybe lots of people." he looks to Bina, and hesitates before stepping forward. "This One can cook... but has no herbs to use."

Burai casts one last glance at the water. But after a quick look at the fish that Ishrya caught earlier he turns towards the picnic area. He looks around the sands with an expert eye for something that can burn. After a few moments he nods as if to himself. He moves until he reaches an open area.

The Gobbo eyes Sabina, and Rocky, as they speak to what a party can be. She nods slowly and glances about. "Irshya will get fish.", she says with a slight tone of weariness. "Rocky no need herbs. Fish no naturally taste like oregano or butter. Still taste good." Irshya snorts and giggles, and then runs off to the water again, splashing in and disappearing under the surface. Once more, she can be tracked by her fin and tail.

Bina nods to Rocky. "Thank you. I'll leave the cooking to you. You may want to ask Burai here if there are herbs or plants that may help you cook near here. If not I'll fetch some from the market along with some beer and wine and some bread. And if I run across a bard along the way I'll drag them along as well."

Rocky blinks slowly, and peers after Irshya before turning to Sabina. '....what is 'oregano'? This One likes to cook with "click hiss". This One does not know softskin words. Small things with good taste. Shall use whatever can be found.'

Burai looks over at the mention on his name. He peers at Rocky and then says, "I don't know much about herbs for cooking." He takes a few deep breaths, centering himself. "Once I have a fire started, I can help..."

GAME: Burai casts Entangle. Caster Level: 6 DC: 14

Grass, weeds and various plants begin to grow an instant after the spell is cast.

The fin continues to zip back and forth in the water, disappearing occasionally before returning a short time later. After several minutes, the Goblin returns to shore, bearing three fish that all wiggle and squirm in their attempts to escape. "FOur!", she exclaims, carefully placing the new few next to the first. "Binabina, do I need to catch more?", she wonders.

Bina smiles to Irshya and ponders. "We need enough for everyone who plans on being here, right? Unless we find a pot and make stew." She ponders this with finger tapping on chin.

Her peacock flaps over to her on awkward wings and lands on her shoulder. "I'll be right back! Just going up to the market." ,she says and then bustles off at a pace that would leave many behind.

Rocky eyes the sudden growth of assorted plants somewhere between amazment and suspicion, waiting until they've well stopped moving before stepping closer to see if any seem familiar. Lacking that, start sampleing leaves, flowers, and stems. Only want to know what flavor something has is to taste it, right? Not like any of this stuff is going to be poison... not strong poison, anyway... technically caffinee is a poison.

Burai takes a large sword-like weapon off of his back. He gives Rocky a look and then shrugs. "I've never used it for cooking before," he admit. Grasping the handle with both hands he swings, chopping a swath through the edges of the patch of vegetation. Lowering the blade he uses the tip like a rake to move the bits into a pile. Then he repeats the motion. At this rate it will take some time but the beginnings of a pile of firewood are forming.

It takes a short while but Bina returns just as fast as she left with a sack over one shoulder and Emp on the other. She's grinning and she starts removing things from her bag. Some basic herbs, salt and pepper. Some veggies and a campfire pot. "I think we'll have enough for everyone now. The casks of wine and beer will be along in a few minutes."

Rocky gathers a few leaves that seem tastey... might be some kind of mint, might be poison ivy... and heads over to see what more proper seasonings have been brought. Still mostly unfamiliar, but likely a lot safer to sample.

Burai has his wood piled higher in the middle to form fairly large ziggurat-like shape. He breathes like before, then begins casting another spell. Bright spots form in various places. They smolder. Then small fires form. Soon the pile is burning, a sizeable cookfire.

GAME: Burai casts Spark. Caster Level: 6 DC: 13

Bina sets the pot up and prays to Tarien softly. A moment later the pot begins to fill with fresh water which she then takes to the others. "Ok. Gut and debone the fish and put them in the pot? I'll start on the veggies to throw in too. Fish stew."

(fade out)