Snake Charmers
Log Info
- Title: Snake Charmers
- Emitter: Ashes
- Characters: Mikilos, Ravenstongue
- Place: A15: Mithralla Merchandise
- Time: Thursday, December 23, 2021, 5:16 PM
- Summary: Mikilos' houseguest, N'tsssa the Lamia, is proving difficult. First she's threatening Belhan, for being weak, the the customers, like Ravenstongue, and finally attempting to charm Mikilos. Her efforts bounce off the elves, wild, dawn and half, leaving her frustrated. Mikilos tries to soothe her by providing some information he's been able to research regarding the lamia's curse. It's likely from a god, and one that some the lamia revile while others embrace. N'tsssa seems interested in researching it, and snacking on Pothy, both of which can be done at the city library. Mikilos volunteers to attend. They make plans to go the next day, it's already been a long one.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A15: Mithralla Merchandise *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
Here, a large wooden structure has been built. Its somewhat eccentric yet elegant design suggests its owner may be of the arcane persuasion. To the side of the main structure is a small corral to for horses or wagons. Before the central building, a massive sword emerges from the earth. A sign upon it reads: "MITHRALA MERCHANDISE."
Inside is a small seating area with several comfortable chairs. To the back, an unobtrusive but businesslike sales counter, and two large signs. One asks patrons to please wait here and not disrupt those inside the lab. The other offers a lab rental at a very reasonable rate.
To the left and right are a large set of doors. The doors on the right lead to a large room which takes up most of the building. Several long tables are scattered about, many with small tool racks. A small forge sits off to the side. Unlike the average workshop, maps of celestial bodies and guides to the elemental planes line the walls. Large frameworks of brass, silver, and crystal occupy space between the tables. A large shelf dominates the far wall, the containers upon it sporting such labels as "wyvern bile," "sulfur," "tiger's tears," and other exotic items. A glass-covered hole in the roof, set with mirrors, offers direct sunlight, or moonlight, to shine upon various projects.
The doors to the left lead towards the direction of the mountains and what is reported to be a sildanyari-style ball room. Wizards.
During regular store hours, a young Llyranesi man, Belhan Mithralla, keeps an eye on the shop and the lab. When not cleaning or helping a customer, he can usually be found reading some book from the library.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Mikilos 6'8" 180 Lb Dawn Elf Male Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome. Ravenstongue 5'0" 99 Lb Half-Elf Female Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPCs of Note -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= N'tsssa Lamia Female An orange scaled, angry matriarch of a lamia clan. Belhan Wild Elf Male Mikilos' cousin and assistant, shopkeep. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ashes 5'11" 177 Lb Hobgoblin Female A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
"Miiiii-KI-los, could you come here please? Right now? Now. Now please!"
Belhan's voice echose through Mithralla Merchandise and the mansion attached to the store. The young Llyranesi man is pressed against a wall, sunk into a crouch and trying to make himself as small as possible.
A giant snake hovers over him, hissing. Her coils fill the aisles of the store, looping around them. She is a lamia, a scale-covered woman with an elven build to hip-analogues, with a thick snake lower half that is bunched up. Lower two-thirds, or three-quarters, she is a lot more snake than woman, although the way she is arched over the young shop-keep suggests the instinct to hunt mousers is built in.
'Sssssssssttt!' She flicks out a forked tongue.
Mikilos wanders out from the back hall, distracted, a stack of books floating behind him as he pours over another in his hands. "Yes? What's wrong?" The wizard glances between the two, oblivious for a moment. "OH! Oh, I'm sorry, I completely forgot to introduce you two. N'tsssa, this is Belhan, my cousin and assistant. Belhan, this is N'tsssa, she'll be staying with us for a while, and looks far more intimidating than she really is."
It is at this moment, perhaps the worst moment of all times, that Ravenstongue walks through the front door of the esteemed establishment known as Mithralla Merchandise.
She takes one look at the lamia hovering over poor Belhan and freezes in mid-step. Her mouth opens for a moment, perhaps to scream or make an observation, but it quickly closes. Apparently words have failed her.
However, Pothy exists. This bodes well or possibly unwell for all parties involved. The pale-feathered corvid also happens to be on Ravenstongue's shoulder, as he is wont to do, and stares at the lamia just as his sorceress happens to be doing. Unlike her, however, he opens his mouth and speaks: *"SNACKS."* It does not matter who or what is standing in front of him. All will give him tribute in due time.
"Greetings N'tsssa," Belhan says, shrinking lower, not willing to test her actual restraint levels.
"Thissss one isss weak. He isss not an adequate guard for your treasssures." N'tsssa hisses at Mikilos, attention diverted. She is vibrantly orange on most of her scales, and a pastel peach colour on her skin, her elven section. "Anything might come through that door. He will not sssstop it."
She flings her hand towards the door, just as Ravenstongue comes through. There's motion, everywhere. Coils sliding on the floor, ssshsssing against the wood, and then she's sliding forward and looming over Ravenstongue.
Pothy's sudden statement makes her look at the white raven. She misinterprets his squawking. "Thissss isss offeringsss?" <parseltongue>
GAME: Ashes rolls 1d20+20: (15)+20: 35 (N'tsssa intimidate on Ravenstongue)
Ravenstongue squeaks and draws back against the door, an arm immediately going around Pothy. Surprisingly, even the corvid burrows into her hood, as though hoping the lamia would suddenly forget his existence merely because he's stuffed his pretty pale head into folds of blue wool. "P-P-Please don't harm us!" Ravenstongue manages to spit out, tears already welling up in her violet eyes. "We just came in to shop!"
GAME: Mikilos rolls intimidate: (13)+10: 23 (on N'tsssa, vs DC25)
"ENOUGH!"
Do not annoy the Archmage.
Though one might notice he's not moving any closer.
"He need not guard. Any thief will be found and dealt with, and they know it."
Focus shifts to the most recent arrivals. "It's okay, N'tsssa is still adjusting to urban society."
GAME: Mikilos rolls spellcraft: (20)+37: 57 (vs DC18) GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Spellcraft: (13)+8: 21 (vs DC18)
N'tsssa starts at Mikilos' shout.
She's not intimidated, although she shifts further away from him, and watches him. Almost, she was almost startled.
Focusing on Ravenstongue again, she undulates hypnotically and hisses. Sounds of power. Like a spell, a suggestion.
"Sssssleeeep" The lamia hisses. It would help if she spoke something the half-elf understood. <parseltongue>
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "RT knows Sildanyari and Sylvan. I will roll now!" GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Will: (15)+6: 21 (vs DC18) GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Linguistics: (9)+3: 12 (vs DC28)
Unfortunately, for all of the lamia's undulating and hypnosis, Ravenstongue seems... very much not sleepy at all. In fact, she just looks straight up confused. "Umm... I think she just tried to do something to me, Mister Mikilos," Ravenstongue speaks up, although she's still backed up against the shop door and isn't at all inclined to get any closer to the lamia if she has to.
Mikilos sighs, rolls his eyes, strides up to the Lamia, reaches with one hand, and lightly touches the tip of a finger to her nose.
"Boop."
He's not going to let himself be intimidated, and certainly not going to show it when he is.
"If you're quite finished posing, I may have found something." Stepping back to the counter, he directs the stack of floating books to land there. Should one look, the texts are about ancient history, from children's fable books of the first age, to historic documents, to biographies of historic figures. "The first mention I find of Lamia is fifty years after the Battle of Wine Spring, but the text treats them as an established presence the reader is assumed to understand. Are many references before that to 'cursed elves' but that can be anything from blindness, to bad luck, to Mul'."
blep!
Her tongue flicks out as her nose is poked. Her tail-tip makes its rattle-less rattle. She hisses... and then the books are a distraction. She curls towards them, coils sliding over each other as she examines the stack from one side, the other side, and then takes a book off the top.
"Yessssss...." She opens the tome, "The mul'niesssssssa are a cursssse." <parseltongue>
She seems to have forgotten Belhan, Ravenstongue, and Pothy for the moment. She still takes up a lot of the floor.
Ravenstongue looks around curiously now that the lamia is not trying to eat her familiar. She looks over to Mikilos and Belhan and furrows her brows after taking a cursory glance over to the books with which the lamia is busying herself. "So... Umm... How did... Well, how did /this/ happen?" she asks, gesturing vaguely to the area of the shop that the lamia is occupying.
Which is to say, most of it.
Pothy pulls his head back out from Ravenstongue's hood and looks at his half-elf mistress with something like judgment. "Snacks," he says quietly. The implication seems to be that he expects twice the amount of snacks after this ordeal is done and over with.
Mikilos mmms quietly. "Cursed. Some mul' are okay. Some are bad. All are people."
Leaving the Lamia to the books for a moment, he shifts focus back to Ravenstong and Pothy. "Did you get in on the Lars fiasco? Bard charming people into doing his dirty work. Nasty business. Anyway, as a side hustle, or maybe part of something bigger? Anyway, been tricking non-humans into coming to the Arena to fight. They apparently dressed her up as a medusa, then cast a few Flesh to Stone spells on the sly to keep up appearances."
"Why are we in childrensssss books?" N'tsssa asks, switching to one of the ancient fables, flipping through, examining the pictures, turning it sideways and rocking the book. Perhaps her vision is based on movement. <parseltongue>
"She's...a h... another waif I expect my cousin brought in from the cold, then." Belhan supplements, taking his regular position at the counter and keeping both eyes on the lamia. "A very dangerous waif. Seems a bit elaborate, making her medusae. That's like a hat on a hat."
Ravenstongue looks absolutely disgusted by the description of what had been done to the lamia. "No, I had no clue that was going on," she says. Her gaze darts over to the lamia again, taking on a more sympathetic tone. "That's... Well, that's awful. Both for her and for the people coming into the Arena."
Mikilos shrugs. "Some facts are forgotten, save in stories, childrens book remember to story, but not the facts behind them." <sylvan>
He nods to Ravenstongue. 'Very much so. Anyway, what originally brought you by today?'
The lamia continues to flip through the books, and read random passages. "The Wine Ssssssspring," she hisses, the very words agitating her, impeding her ability to think. Her tail thumps against a shelf. "It issss.... ."
A something.
The snake-woman stares at the tomes a little longer, as if she wants to swallow them. She turns her pointed head towards Mikilos, "God-Ssstrength currrse, from the prisssson. Normal remediesss will not undoe?." <parseltongue>
She glances at Ravenstongue but doesn't add more.
"Are you trying to find something?" Ravenstongue asks of both Lamia and Mikilos, her expression now more thoughtful. Her command of the fae language has gotten much better as of late. She doesn't pause to consider her words nearly as often, and her accent has abated. <Sylvan>
Mikilos nods, speaking to the Lamia. 'Normal curse are seldom passed from mother to child, nor remain without magic. That takes powerful magics. Maybe a god, maybe a host of casters, but certainly not just a single mortal caster.'
He frowns, considering, but doesn't put word to his thoughts.
Starting slightly, he nods to Ravenstongue. "The lamia used to be elves, but were cursed long ago. We're trying to learn more, maybe find a way to break the curse." <tradespeak>
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Spellcraft: (9)+8: 17 (vs DC19)
"Yesssss. What happened. Very powerful magicssss." N'tsssa agrees, taking another book and moving it so she can see the letters. "Motherrsss and childssss are not the ssssame."
She looks at Mikilos, and her head remains fixed in space while the rest of her moves about like a string vibrating between two points. It's quite hypnotic.
It's actually hypnotic. A charm powerful enough to influence a monster, but will it affect a book loving elf? "You will make copiesssss of thesssss for me." She seems insistent. <parseltongue>
GAME: Mikilos rolls will: (10)+17: 27 (vs DC19, SLA Charm Monster) GAME: Ashes rolls 1d20+12+3: (20)+12+3: 35 (N'tsssa caster check vs Mikilos' SR)
Ravenstongue watches the display going on and thinks for a moment longer on Mikilos's explanation. "Hmm... Do we know what cursed them exactly?" she asks, slipping back into tradespeak. "Maybe I could help with research somehow? Err, umm--maybe not here but in one of the libraries." She seems to have a sympathetic mind for the lamia, but her uncertain look at witnessing her attempting to charm Mikilos seems to indicate she doesn't want to deal with actually /being/ near the lamia.
Mikilos blinks slowly, hands drooping by his side, his eyes locked to the Lamia's. Slowly, he shuffles forward. 'You... will say 'please. He snorts softly, and smiles. 'A few I already have copies of, you're welcome to them. The others will take time.'
Turning, he nods to Ravenstongue. "We do not know. Nor why. I had planned to visit the libraries myself, but have yet to do so. If you could get a jump start, that would be quite helpful." <tradespeak>
N'tssssa flicks out her tongue, considering the dawn elf. Finally, and somewhat softly she says, "Pleasssssss." Her tailtip twitches with amusement. There's a readjustment of her coils. She still occupies a lot of floor-space, just different parts of it now. <parseltongue>
She stares for quite some time at Mikilos, and follows this by peering at Ravenstongue next. Her eyes are unblinking, she has the stop-then-slide motion of snakes, holding a position then moving to the next pose.
Her hands start making arcane motions. She's casting again.
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls Spellcraft: (3)+8: 11 (vs DC19) GAME: Mikilos rolls spellcraft: (8)+37: 45 (vs DC19)
She appears to be casting 'Alter Self' but it's a really weird version. It might have once been a divine 'Remove Curse' spell, altered, the specific appellant god removed, supplemented by pure wizard world-bending or sorcerous-power. It also takes twice as long as it should - and possibly lasts twice as long.
Easily an example of the old fashionned way the spell was done hundreds of years ago.
Mikilos frowns mildly at the casting, watching with professional interest. He doesn't appear concerned, but he also seems to be treating the powerful monster like a scared child acting out... that might noy be the wisest course, even if it might also be accurate. <tradespeak>
"Umm, Mister Mikilos, shouldn't you do something?" Ravenstongue asks, gesturing vaguely to the lamia's spellcasting. She quietly backs away to the door again, appearing ready to run out. Whatever her original purpose for coming here was, it seems to be at the back of her mind or even abandoned altogether now.
The lamia works her spell, weaving in a snake-like fashion. Her casting takes unusually long, or surprisingly short if it's a ritual. There's a shimmering of scales, and the lamia shrinks.
N'tessa stands as a slender dawn elf, freakishly tall by elven standards, with peach skin and bright orange hair. It's styled in a long braid worn over one shoulder. Her eyes are a matching bright orange, and sparkle with curiosity. Her clothes seem to be simple and fashionable, she has boots, they're a painful, neutral grey. A simple belt defines her waist, and she covers it all with a bright orange clock.
She looks like Mikilos' sister, if he had one, and perhaps Ravenstongue's cousin. She also looks like Belhan's cousin, since he looks like a cousin to everyone. "Thissss one can go to the library alssssssso!" Her hissing is the same. <parseltongue>
Mikilos grins, and nods. 'Very interesting, I seldom see casting quite like that. And a curious look as well, though it quite suits you.'
He smiles to Ravenstongue. "It's okay. I understand can be scary, but really, there's no danger." <tradespeak>
Mikilos is far more confidant about that then he should be, but, optimist, in his own way
Ravenstongue sighs in relief to see that the lamia just wanted to integrate with society. The relief is swiftly abandoned when she realizes that the lamia wants to go /to the library with her./ She puts her hand up to her mouth, trying to pass it off as a thoughtful pose when it's more of an attempt to hide the mixture of emotions her face is putting on as she assesses the situation.
"Well... Sure, you could, but I think if you're coming along, I'd need someone else to come along. Just in case someone tries to cause a scene," Ravenstongue says. Who exactly the someone could be is left ambiguous.
Belhan is testing the illusion to see if it is an illusion. He's leaning over the counter, with a handy staff, and pokes at the ground where a lamia coil was moments ago. 'kloc', it hits wood. N'tsssa is what she appears to be, a dawn elf for the moment.
Her head whips around at the noise. She points at Belhan, "We take himssss!" She suggest-orders. <parseltongue>
"I have to mind the store!" Belhan replies immediately. He didn't need to wait for the translation to understand what the lamia-now-elf meant.
N'tsssa looks at Mikilos, her expressions a lot easier to read on a more-familiar face, especially with her lack of control. She looks unhappy, frustrated, angry, a little intimidated and resigned.
Mikilos chuckles. "I can go. I wouldn't let you three alone anyway. I know what kind of influence Pothy can be."
Ravenstongue nods, now finally looking more relieved that Mikilos has offered to supervise the trip to the libraries. However, she notices the expression on the new dawn elf guise and frowns sympathetically. "We're just looking out for you, N'tsssa," Ravenstongue says, slipping back into the fey tongue. "We don't want you or anyone else getting hurt." <Sylvan>
Pothy has been busying himself by tugging at loose strands of Ravenstongue's hair. At Mikilos's comment, however, he stops, turns, and stares holes through Mikilos. Revenge would be had...
"We could arrange something later? So we have all the proper precautions," Ravenstongue says to Mikilos, dropping back into tradespeak. "I, umm... I honestly don't remember what I came in here for anyway."
Mikilos smiles, and nods. "Is getting late, and still need to make proper sleeping arangements. Early tomorrow, perhaps?"
N'tsssa looks at Ravenstongue with cold eyes, despite their expressive shape and colour, they show mostly reservation. "You are both strong enough to be my entourage." <parseltongue>
It's not really an apology, nor an admission of weakness. Hiding flaws is a common practice of those who live in the wilds, and she's far from her homeland amongst strangers - and she's already been bamboozled by one softskin.
The delay to the next day is accepted with a nod and an uncharacteristic hisssing noise. One might want to explain to her that the sound isn't masked or translated.
"Thissss one expectssss opulent accomodationsssss." Lamia matriarch is picky matriarch, and aloof elf. At least the sleeping arrangements keep her occupied and under direct observation, much to Belhan's relief.
Dramatis Personae
Ravenstongue
The half-elf young woman known as Ravenstongue stands at a somewhat average height for a half-elf woman, although her five feet combined with her slender and petite form might be considered diminutive by many others. While she physically seems to favor her sildanyari parent over her human one, her neat black hair styled into a long braid worn over one shoulder is undoubtedly a tell-tale sign she is half-sil. Her violet eyes peer at the world around her behind sensible circular spectacles in a dark wood frame, curious to study the world around her.
Ravenstongue commonly dresses in suitable clothes for the occasion, although they tend to consist of dresses made of fine cotton or wool depending on the season. She typically has a small hooded capelet that she pulls up if she feels overwhelmed. In the city, she wears somewhat fashionable shoes comfortable for walking but never leaves on an adventure without a good pair of boots.
Most recently, Ravenstongue has acquired a slightly large mark (four inches tall from end to end) on her chest, right over her heart: a black feather that runs along where her sternum would be beneath the skin. Inside the feather mark painted in silver are a set of scales, similar to the goddess Vardama's symbol. The symbol slightly shimmers if exposed to light regardless of day or night.
The nearly-constant presence on her shoulder, Apotheosis, or Pothy for short, is startlingly pale for a raven. His light blue eyes are curious like his mistress's but usually fixate on food. By the miracle of being a familiar, Pothy never balloons above the average size for a raven despite his eating habits. If he's not gazing longingly at food, he's usually tugging at Ravenstongue's braid for her attention.
Mikilos
Mikilos is a slender male Dawn Elf, freakishly tall by elven standards, standing a full head over the average human. His ivory skin and long blonde hair hold a rosy warmth, as if dappled in spring sunshine, even when such light is not present. His hazel eyes are deep set, and spark with curiosity. His hands are long and nimble, but hold callus and stain from long use in craft.
He is dressed in a simple Grey robe, of a simple cut, unadorned with decoration. It is however a strange, almost painfully Neutral Grey. His waist is defined by a simple leather belt, from which a scroll case hangs upon one side, a well-used scabbard on the other. Both trousers and boots are simple, black, and practical. An occasional cloak guards against the weather or dust. Upon his brow sits a simple circlet of silver, set with a small stone which shifts from blue to violet, depending on the light.
N'tsssa Art by Sylessae
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/779877879382802442/919431572405493781/nahuri___horned_viper_by_sylessae_desnkns-pre.jpg
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/243151494008930306/605599684731600938/IMG_20181029_134847.jpg
