The Early Bird gets the Worm

Log Info

• Title: The Early Bird gets the Worm
• Emitter: Aryia
• Characters: Aryia, Ravenstongue, Vaera, Venom, Cryosanthia, Mercy, Stjepan
• Place: A03: The TarRaCe
• Time: Monday, October 11, 2021, 9:54 PM
• Summary: Several people meet up in the Tarrace, for dining and discussions. Aryia and Venom converse in sign, and pass notes. Ravenstongue and Pothy are conversing with the redscale, Vaera. Cryosanthia arrives from her upper room, sends Lily briefly to the kitchen, then they both tuck into their meals. Lily has fried chicken tenders with lots of hot sauce. Cryo has a selection of less favourable parts of animals, which she's been advised are good for her eggs. Mercy arrives, investigating the supposed demon of the Tarrace, and doesn't find one. She joins the group, explaining she's also a sailor and helped with the noble reconstruction. Lily throws sloppy tenders at Pothy, only for them to be snatched out of the air by Vaera. Others hide beneath the table, and the evening continues.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.

The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.

Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.

To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Aryia        4'8"     110 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her.
Ravenstongue 5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.
Vaera        7'0"     262 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A tall, dark red Makari with a wooden leg.
Venom        5'6"     130 Lb     Human             Female    A woman(?) about 5'6" in a ragged black veil and poncho. 
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Mercy        5'5"     150 Lb     Human             Female    A platinum haired Aesir woman, in flamboyant black.
Stjepan      8'0"     534 Lb     Giantborn         Male      Big, blonde jotun.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  NPCs of Note  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Little Fang, 'Lily'              Kobold            Female    A pinkscale youngling, tan leather dress, Cryo's daughter.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The TarRaCe, nightfall.

Such an establishment has a thrumming atmosphere as dusk falls, the chill in the air as the season changes adding to the folk that didn't want to be caught in the pre-winter grasp.

One added to the atmosphere was a scarred mul'neissa woman with a bag slung over her shoulder, hair wet and brushed back as she leaves the bathhouse to claim a booth for herself. Some food for herself is ordered, as well as a drink or three. She seemed quite relaxed as she kicks back with her boots on the table.

For now.

Until the alabaster menace arrives, that is. The pale raven soars in through an open door and spots the scarred woman even before all of the food and drink around him at other people's tables. You see, strangers' food and drinks are forbidden to eat.

Unfortunately for Aryia, she happens to not be a stranger for the raven, and the white bird plunks down neatly onto the rim of Aryia's table. "Merp!" he sounds off, wagging his tail feathers in the display of the happy raven--although whether that's happiness to see a familiar person or happy that he might be fed by said person is a different question altogether.

"Pothy! Pothy, oh my gosh, /please/ don't fly ahead of me like that," comes the exasperated voice of the small half-elf girl, panting as she catches up to Pothy. She snags the corvid up, prompting an unhappy merp from him, and puts him on her shoulder. "Especially don't disturb Madame Aryia! Rude bird! --Super, super sorry to greet you like this," she says to Aryia. Pothy continues to sulk on Ravenstongue's shoulder.

Into the Tarrace came a red sith-makar in a long coat with an uneven gait, after the half-elf ran into the tavern. She looks around, finding them at a booth, with a familiar mul'niessa. She pauses at the door, before walking to where they were. "Greetings, Aryia. How are you doing this day?" She asks, before turning her attention to the other, unknown person. "Are you two friends? Greetings to you as well, my name is Vaera."

The peace is broken with a singular 'merp'. A shimmery eye cracks open, their soft demeanor slowly deflating to a glare. The gaze flicks over to the bird's master, a relieved sigh escaping the elf. She really didn't want to have to add bird chucking to her list of things to do today.

There's a slight, if somewhat annoyed expression from the bird that bleeds away. She raises a hand to the half-sil. Her food arrives, her pulling it /away/ from Pothy as the redscale emerges. "Oh, hey. I'm good. This is R-A-V-E-N-S-T-O-N-G-U-E." She gestures for the two to sit with her, her wincing a bit with her left arm as she does so. <Handspeech>

Ravenstongue sits down, smiling at the red sith-makar as she does. The white raven on her shoulder, probably much to Aryia's relief, seems to be more interested in the new-to-him person than he is in antagonizing Aryia for her food. The fine art of raven chucking will be tested another time. "Aryia and I know each other, yeah. The birdbrain is Pothy--don't mind him if he begs you for s-n-a-c-k-s," she says, spelling out the word in a way that just causes the corvid to stare her down like a child who is fully capable of spelling and knows what you're talking about, /mom/. "He's a very needy boy. What is your name?"

"Snacks," Pothy says in his strange avian voice, looking around at the room for unattended treats he can snap up.

"Then that is good. Greetings, Ravenstongue, and Pothy." Vaera notes, electing to stand instead of sitting uncomfortably in the booth. "Curious name, is this because you speak for Pothy, or some other reason?"

The red makari chuffs and shakes her head. "Food oriented, then. Have you been using this to train them, or something of that manner?"

Aryia sips on her stew, staring at the bird. "Don't believe his tricks. He's a food thief. I've seen him eat a whole sandwich in one sitting." <Handspeech>

"Umm, well, it's just a name I've gone by for a while. It's a long story--I promise I'm not like, a criminal on the run or something," Ravenstongue adds with a laugh, scratching Pothy's neck feathers for a moment. "Most people just call me Raven for short."

"Snaaacks," Pothy whines. He looks at Vaera with big puppy--err, baby chick eyes, startlingly blue.

"He's actually a familiar. He doesn't need to eat, but he certainly thinks he does!" Raven says with a sigh.

Aryia sighs, snapping her fingers at the bird and shaking her head. She pulls free her journal and scribbles a few words down. She slides it over to Raven to show.

"How's the magic going? Learn anything from Merek?"

A spectre appears at the the doorway of the Tarrace, one shrouded in black, broken only by glimpses of ruddy leather and scuffed, blued steel. The veiled head pivots some to survey the place as a greeter tentatively makes their way over to find out what the deal is. A gloved hand emerges from the poncho, in a string of gestures that cycle from halting, to greeting, to a rolled wrist splay accompanied by a shrug.

While the greeter seems a little flummoxed by the response, the shrouded one resumes her sweep, spying a particular set of acquaintances down the way, and followsup with an almost negligent fingerwave before her stride carries her over toward Aryia and Vaera's table, where it seems they're already entertaining company.

"Snaaaaaaa--" Pothy begins to whine until Ravenstongue suddenly produces a handful of little dried berries, holding it out to the white raven. The corvid happily snaps up each and every dried morsel into his pale beak. The half-elf girl sighs a little in relief to have bought Pothy's silence. At least for now.

"I learned a bit. Weirdly enough, I had a dream the other night--and I woke up this morning to see a black raven staring at Pothy and I from our window before he flew off. Kind of haven't been able to stop thinking about that all day, but I don't think they're related." Ravenstongue looks thoughtful as she recounts all of this.

Aryia tilts her head to the side, brows knitting some as Raven caves in to Pothy's whining. She pulls her book back, scribble scribble, show.

"That's weird. I had a weird dream the other day as well. Glad you learned something from him. He's always a bit... aloof."

There is a visible flash of surprise that goes across Aryia's visage as her eyes flick to the side to see the newcomer. Joy starts to spread, but it is quickly replaced with a light smile. She raises a hand, snapping a finger gun towards the veiled figure before giving a few quick, "Hello Venom. Good to see you. You're welcome to sit with us. This is R-A-V-E-N-S-T-O-N-G-U-E. She's one of the first people I've met here." <Handspeech>

"If they are asking for snacks, you should not oblige them." Vaera states, glancing to the bird. "If you do so, they will associate asking for snacks as they did with receiving them." Vaera advises, looking to the bird. "Reinforce positive behaviours."

She turns her attention to Aryia the newcomer with a nod. "Good to see you, Venom. Aryia was just introducing me to Ravenstongue, who is here with her. You are a shaman, then? Magic user, of some sort, you could say."

Venom continues her stride, her shrouded countenance forestalling an revelation of expression on the reply, but a hand lifts for a fingergun-into-fingerwave gesture chain. She draws up at the table, taking the invitatin with a little nod before the veiled head pivots a touch toward the half-elf and her bird.

That hand rises to her chest and she gives a neat little bow, before she turns her attention to Vaera, with more complex gestures, "Hello, Vaera, I'm glad to see everyone is well." <handspeech>

There is a presence, upstairs.

A tall and graceful white-scaled sith'makar. She's wearing a layered scholars robe, in white with pale blue embroidery. A small pink-scaled youngling rides on her shoulders. She descends the stairs, hand on the banister and looks around.

The table with friends and acquaintances is noted. She nods in their direction, holding up a hand. She checks the kitchen to make sure it's safe. No fires, no lurking blackcapes, no demons, all Luchts. Plus a gobber. "Be good Little Fang, get ssomething to eat." She hisses.

"Okaaay." Lily slides down her back, out along her tail and happily bounds into the kitchen.

Cryosanthia heads over to the others. "Peace on your Nests. May this one join?"

Pothy responds with a happy croak and the wagging of his tail feathers before Ravenstongue can get a word in. She snickers a little to see how happy Pothy is to see Cryosanthia again. "Good evening!" Ravenstongue says, waving the hand of berries to refocus Pothy's attention back on the snacks and to continue behaving like a good bird. "It's nice to see you again. I think you can sit here just fine!"

"Lilly?" Pothy asks, a little smudge of dried berry on his pale beak as he looks back up from Ravenstongue's pale hand. He even looks around for Little Fang, but doesn't leave his post on the half-elf's shoulder.

"As for his behavior... Trust me, he's more well behaved now than he used to be. He used to steal food from street vendors back when we lived in Rune. I'm still working on him, though," Ravenstongue explains to Vaera. "As much as I can, anyway. I'm a sorcerer, so magic is in my blood--and, well, I'm pretty certain he's tied to that magic, too."

The door opens and a black clad figure stands there...no not what you are thinking. Black is more of a background for silver, or maybe platinum. From white shiny plume at the top of the woman's floppy 'musketeer' hat to shiny buckles and medallions where the toes of her thigh high boots meet her ankles. Most dominant in the heraldry is a dragon on her black tabard, picked out in platinum threads. She flips back a length of ash-blonde hair that had fallen over her shoulder. Swirls her similarly dragon embroidered cape and doffs her floppy hat with an elaborate flourish.

"Greetings good citizens and believers of all faiths. I am Mercy Hjarlhundr, Redeemer of the Radiant Sun. and administrator of JUSTICE! wherever I find it lacking."

The woman smiles. her eyes crinkling up with good humour as she lifts her head from the bow that accompanied the removal and waving of her head dress.

I am here on official Temple Business but would love to share with everyone here a blessed drink.

Ravenstongue is in awe of this woman of JUSTICE

Aryia tilts her head off towards the mention of a Lily. Her smile grows more, and a hand shoots up to wave to the whitescale in large motions. There was a lot of people here. And to be honest, it felt kind of nice. She steals a little glance towards Venom, her nodding towards her and scooting over so newcomers could sit if they wished.

Though, such thoughts are put aside as there was a declaration from the front door. She blinks owlishly.

"... huh?" <Handspeech>

"Everything is well, yes." Vaera nods to Venom, reaching to bump their arm with a fist. "The field testing went well, better than I expected in fact. It should be ready to show you."

She pats part of her coat, where the veiled woman knew the firearm was kept. Then she turns to Ravenstongue. "That they are improving is good, then they can continue to improve. Though if it's to deal with magic, then perhaps further control will come with mastery of the magic."

She looks to Cryosanthia then, and thumps her tail once. "There is none, but this one wishes peace on yours, Cryosanthia." She greets, reaching into her coat. "This one has something for you, herbal tea mixtures, should you ever find yourself ill or pained."

The declaration gets her attention too, and she looks curiously to the door. "Welcome, Mercy. I hope that you will find this day well for yourself."

Venom, for her part, is settling into a seat near Aryia, as it was her invitation, turning the chair to a right angle with the table, first. She turns toward the tall palescale, offering a mute wave before beginning to sign a query, "Do you know everyone-?" before the arrival of Justice makes her hand pause in the middle of transitioning to a new sigil posture.

Her head cocks as it turns toward the entrance foa beat or two.

Vaera's declaration brings the apparition out of her fugue, and she starts to answer, "That's good to know, I was wondering about that." <handspeech>

"She's coming Pothy," the whitescale tells the white raven, hooking her tail around a sturdy stool and sliding it over. She slips onto the seat, hooking one foot in it, sitting straight, her clothes are a little lumpy, "She's getting my order."

She hears how this sounds, "She doesn't know what to order. This one put the order in earlier, she's asking for what she wants and it will come out."

As soon as the explanation is given, a server emerges with a tray and sets it down in front of Cryosanthia. Lily climbs up on her lap. There are plates. A few in the middle which have saucy chicken tenders and some fruit.

The dishes around the edges are... more unusual. Tripe and tendons, bones, bone marrow. Some unusual looking fruit and dried meats.

"This one doesn't have one either, Vaera, but the greeting is offered." Cryo takes the packets of teas, "thank you. I believe they will be helpful."

The black and platinum clad inquisitress strides confidently into the room. The multiple repeating light crossbows under cape add a strange percussive accompaniment to her bootsteps. Smiling openly once more she nods to Vaera.

"I am fine as can be when there is still inJUSTICE! to be dealt with. I believe the correct greeting for you is 'Peace be on your nest'?

She continues her way to the bar, puts down some coin and asks for, "A pleasant mild, not strong wine suitable to many palates Enough of it to serve ALL hear with small glass suitable for a toast."

Mercy says, "please..."

Aryia raises a white brow as Mercy justly strides in to place their order, her giving a slow nod to Venom. "... now I do." She gives the veiled woman a nudge on the shoulder with a knuckle, her flashing a smile before looking over to Cryosanthia. The meal must be something that sith-makar eat, so she didn't put too much thought into it. <Handspeech>

Those chicken tenders looked good though...

A scribble scribble into her book, her writing in large letters for Cryosanthia.

"Good to see you are doing better." It reads.

Ravenstongue looks around at all of the people and smiles. It's a little, small expression--which is fitting, considering she's so short--but it's a genuine one. "I'm hoping that's the case," she says to Vaera. "I've been working on that, as I was telling Aryia earlier. Slowly but surely."

Meanwhile on Ravenstongue's shoulder, Pothy is having none of this talk of magic learning. What is justice, what is proper animal rearing, what is peace on nests and whatnot while there's food to be consumed? The white raven stares down all of the dishes presented and his blue eyes look almost dilated. But he maintains his vigil, unmoving. The time will come for Pothy.

Soon.

"Well, it worked quite well, blew a whole straight through the monster I was aiming for, tore right through the tentacles that were attacking everyone in the process." She explains to Venom. "The leg, is a lot more problematic. I need to meet that war golem, Knightmare I believe they were called, and speak to them about the structure, or find someone else."

The red makari reaches over to pat the small kobold on the head. "There was, and there will be for you, Cryosanthia. And peace on your nest as well, Lily. That is kind of you to get food for your Sassa. She may need more assistance in the future." She replies, looking to the plates and nodding. "Good choices. I would recommend some more fish as well."

Then she turns her attention back to the energetic inquisitor with a chuff. "There always will be, but such pursuits are noble. There, is none, but for most, you would be correct in your greeting. You have good news if you are offering a toast, I take it?"

"Keep working on it. I did not think I would ever regain the connection I had to the natural world, but I was proven wrong. And if I can improve with magic, then surely you can as well, Ravenstongue."

Lily picks up a tender that is smeared in sauce. Now it starts. It's on her mouth, and the little kobold has a lot of snout. There's buffalo sauce on her clothes, Cryo's clothes, Cryosanthia. Sticky claw-hands wave Aryia's way, signing, "Wants?" She offers the plate. <handsign>

Cryosanthia smiles at Aryia, her posture relaxing, "Thank you." She leans towards the Mul'niessa, resting her hand gently on her shoulder, "we should talk later."

"Fish! Right!" Cryosanthia laughs, "this one knew she forgot something. Yes, some fish too."

Her head turns towards the Inquisitor. "This one is not taking spirits for the time being. I will have to decline."

The time has come for Pothy! Co-conspirator Lily holds a dripping chicken tender his way. It's _almost_ cannibalism, but gloriously not. "Waaantssss?"

GAME: Mercy casts Bless. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14

With a nod to the server, Mercy accepts the offered bottle and glasses. She gestures at the bottle: "May Daeus grant his blessings on all who consume this. Let their health be strong and their future bright."After the eldritch no... holy... light fades from the bottle, she begins pouring out small splashes of the wine into small crystal liquor glasses. She prepares one for everyone in the TarRaCe, even the children and staff. asking for a tray, she puts several of the glasses on it. Picking up the tray she moves about the bar handing out the glasses and asking folk to await her toast. Spoken to, She nods at the one that addressed.

"Yes milady, I'm sorry I don't know how you wish to be addressed. JUSTICE! must always be pursued. It should be tempered though with Compassion and, dare I say, Mercy." She laughs lightly at herself apparently making genuine fun. Continuing she adds. "Well not really but perhaps I can offer good news AFTER the toast." To the White Sith Makari she nods. "That is a shame. Is there anything on offer here that you would drink?"

Pothy contemplates cannibalism.

Actually, he doesn't take long to contemplate cannibalism. Corvids are creatures that will consume anything they can find that's remotely edible, and Pothy appears to fall under this mindset. He happily takes the dripping chicken tender from his little co-conspirator with a happy little merp and scarfs the chicken tendie down his gullet. There's sauce on his beak after the act is done, which Ravenstongue wipes off for him like a mother hen. (Heh.)

"Oh, umm, thank you?" Ravenstongue squeaks out as she's given a drink, but she doesn't signal to drink it right away. She seems more concerned with watching Pothy and making sure he's not too bad of an influence on Lilly.

Aryia blinks at Lily, her grinning and nodding. She takes an offered chicken strip and scarfs it down, her smiling warmly despite some sauce dribbling down her face.

She regards the mother with a blink, her giving a small nod and a thumbs up before patting the hand on her shoulder. Understood. A glance is stolen to Vaera, her raising a brow at the word choice and filing it away for later.

She cautiously takes the drink, eyeing the liquor as if the infused blessing of the Dawn Father would sear away the shadows that ran in her blood. Eh, screw it, bottoms up.

Venom turns her attention back toward Aryia starts to sign to her again, nodding, then her hands come together, flexing and twisting in sequence for her reply, "You're in good cheer."

The veiled one's hands rise under the veils as her chin dips, and unhurriedly busies herself with something beneath, leaving an odd rustle of the sheer layered fabric here and there as the gloves return to view.

Her head turns toward Vaera again as she speaks, a slight flex in her hand before she starts to answer, "It sounds like you've got a solid weapon, then." but doesn't have a lot to add on the rest, it seems.

It could have something to do with the little pink kobold offering spicy chimken to Aryia, as her head turns that way, with a rustle of loose leather straps setting her veiled silhouette into a somewhat eldritch countenance. There is a soft snort, and one of her gloved hands lifts a napkin toward Aryia. <handspeech>

"Uh-huuuh." Lily answers Vaera, grinning in a way that suggests she's in on a secret and enjoying keeping it. Anything that lets her feel superior to others that are larger and older, especially if she's an inner circle to a club.

Which in several ways, she is.

Cryosanthia moves the liquor glass of wine away from her youngling. "Little Fang is not drinking either. Juice, if you wish, though this one is told she needs spinal fluid as well."

A knowing glance towards Vaera, "Shaman Un'eth had quite the list."

Lily is all grins, and messily eats another chicken tender and spreads more sauce around.

Mercy raises her own glass. and takes up a position where she can see the reactions of just about everyone in the pub. shouting "Good Health and Freedom from Oppression for ALL" she downs her own swallow. her eyes sharply watching the clientele for negative reactions. She keeps watching and waiting for everyone to drink, noting those who don't, those who choke, those who start smoking etc.

GAME: Mercy rolls perception: (14)+9: 23

"Just Vaera is alright, Mercy. But thank you for the drink." She responds, taking the offered glass, and pulling a stool closer to herself to sit down. And then they scoop up the kobold and their plate, chuckling and transferring them to her own lap. "There, now you do not need to worry, as any sauce is much less pronounced on myself. Shaman Un'eth is wise, it is good to listen to what she has to share." She chuffs.

"It is a solid weapon, yes. In spite of those who made it." She adds to Venom."

She raises the glass, and looks back to Mercy. "Ah, you are with those others? I will admit, perhaps being so abrupt made me not consider you with the others coming by. Could be a valid strategy."

She empties the glass, and nods.

Aryia blinks at the offer, her face tinting red for a moment before accepting the napkin and cleaning her scarred visage off. "It's hard to not be," she motions to Venom, her face twitching in pain slightly as her left arm moves. She knew the veiled woman would catch that, and she gives a look of 'later'. "Things are improving, little by little."

She gives a raised brow to Cryosanthia's choice of drink. One that most softskins give a scaled one. One of '... the hell?'

The mute elf shakes her head, looking to Mercy. Aryia doesn't smoke or smolder, per se, but the blessing makes a sort of dullness cross her face. One that someone might have during a sermon that doesn't catch their attention. She'd absolutely be one to be sleeping in a pew. <Handspeech>

Lily leans in, hugging Vaera first. Buffalo sauce may not show as dramatically on redscales, but the sith'makar is gooped up on her back now. The little kobold lays her head on her front, "Thanssss."

Then, it's back to eating!

Cryosanthia nods to the redscale as well, "This one listens, this one will follow her guidelines. It is a challenge to feel civilized when one is craving the offal parts of an animal, but it is the Duty so this one will eat."

She looks at Aryia, "There is nutrients in it this one requires currently." Further elaborations are not provided.

Cryosanthia waits for her 'special juice', then toasts with it, "Freedom and health, yes."

With smile at the the scarlet Sith-Makari, The ash-blond, black clad, Aesir quirks an eyebrow questioningly. She makes an series of elaborate gestures implying concealing cloaks and fake noses. "Them?" then she smiles all around. "Great news. Today's regulars and this shift of staff. Are NOT demons. My investigations are done for the night. And I now declare myself Off-Duty"

She bows again and flourishes her broadbrimmed and plumed hat. "Now for a long awaited and anticipated repast." She turns to the table with Vaera and Cryosanthia and the others and asks "Is there space here? May I join you? I'm rather new in town and love to make new friends and acquaintances."

Venom nods as Aryia takes the napkin, reading enough into the Mul'niessa's look. Unfettered elements of whatever is beneath the veils sway as her attention turns back to Vaera for another nod, then, an audible 'tsk'.

Her hands come together again, "Perhaps, but if you trust your life with it, it can't be that bad."

She turns back to the conversation between the two scales, head cocking a touch on the request for a spina colada.

That's new.

Her head dips to regard to small glass she's been presented with, with a slight tilt of what could be a considered look thrown to the Mistress of Ceremonies, and carefully brings it up under the veils... <handspeech>

Vaera chuffs and returns the hug with one arm, the other patting Little fang on the head. Luckily her coat was thick, but she would still need to clean it later.

"There is a dish the softskins eat sometimes, made with meat and organs, and baked into a pie. It makes the uncivilized seem civilized." She offers. "As for the bones, cleaved in half and seasoned with spices, they are welcome in restaurants nobles frequent."

Then she turns to the others. "Yes, them. I admire their persistence, but I can not help but feel there is a better use of their time. You should be welcome here though, Mercy. But did something happen to your arm Aryia? It does not appear to be in the best shape."

Aryia gives a slow nod to Cryosanthia. No understanding in the slightest, but, yet again, like all things in mixed company, she tables it for later.

The shadow elf, having been the first claimant to the booth, gestures for the justly person to take a seat at the large table.

Her getting called out by Vaera makes her wince. Almost was able to get away with it. A sigh leaves her, and she holds up her left arm with a slight grimace. She points to it, then makes a breaking motion with her fists, like she was snapping a twig. She points again, and gives a thumbs up. She supplements her gestures with more fluid ones for those that understand. "I broke my arm after crashing into a wall. My friend fixed it. It's still sore. Takes time to heal."

She glances to Venom, a bead of sweat rolling down the side of her face. Yeah, she'd get an earful of that later. <Handspeech>

"This one... does not wish to hear more about demons." Cryosanthia says, resting her face in her hands. Mostly, this means her long snout projects past the cheeks and eyes she's covering with her palms. No more demons, not now.

Lily trills happily at Vaera, and secure on her lap, eats some more chicken tenders.

"This one will have to find that dish then." The whitescale says, leaning back a little and re-arranging her clothes. She watches Aryia handsign, understanding none of it still.

"This one will have to see those bone dishes also." Cryo says, popping what seems to be a regular bone, perhaps baked enough it will crack, into her maw where she breaks it down and swallows it.

Thankfully, she has two ears.

Venom's head turns some back toward Aryia cat as Vaera shakes it out of the bag so to speak and holds that position for several seconds as the Mul'niessa explains the nature of that little hitch, earlier.

"Well that your friend was around." come her own signing gestures, "It seems like your hand still works alright." <handspeech>

Sitting forward a little, the veiled one reaches under her poncho for a moment or two, withdrawing her own writing supplies before scribbling something upon it:

Was paid in food, once. Client stuffed a sheep stomach with mutton, and some vegetables and boiled it.

It was different.

Pothy and Ravenstongue have quietly busied themselves with food from Ravenstongue's satchel, the bird quieted by the sustenance. However, he lifts his head up and makes a series of small whining noises as he looks in Lily's direction.

This catches the half-elf's interest. She looks at Pothy and says, "Awww, Pothy wants to hang out with Lily. You're so sweet sometimes, you silly bird. But I think it's better for you to stay on my shoulder. It's already pretty crowded."

Pothy hangs his head. Sad raven hours.

"They are nothing if not persistent, " Mercy answers Vaera. "Even after I showed them REAL disguise skills they persist with the fake noses. "

Nodding thankfully to Aryia she heads to the bar to order a huge plate of red meat and side bowl of multiple citrus fruits. Enough of the latter you'd think she was afraid of contracting Scurvy. Order, eventually, in hand, she marches gayly over to the table and finds an unoccupied spot. "Thank you all. Could I trouble you for your names? Vaera has told me hers. And Mine as I said is Mercy Hjarlhundr. The later is Aesir for "Shepherd Dog". I try not to live down to it too much. As a sideline I'm a qualified sailor. That is, in fact, how I made my way and paid my way here from my homeland. I am sadly, a failed paladin, but Daeus granted me in a vision a way that I may still serve JUSTICE!.... " She pauses for breath and blushes. "I'm sorry. I'm sure that's enough about me... She does however pause to nod at Cryosanthia "Subject dropped milady".

Aryia makes a face, eyes rolled to the side and her frame shrinking some, basically agreeing with with Cryosanthia with every fiber of her being. As if saying, 'yes, please, anything but that'.

She nods to Venom, flexing the fingers of her left hand with a slight wince but it finishes with a thumbs up. "Got some notes for you later," she motions with the same hand. <Handspeech>

Attention turns to the table, her giving a sympathetic look to Pothy (/somehow/) before fishing out a piece of paper with faded ink on it. The mute mul'neissa offers it to the justified and totally-should-be-a-paladin. It reads:

"My name is Aryia."

She looks to what Venom wrote, then just gently pats the veiled woman on the shoulder.

"Names, ah, apologies. This one is Cryosanthia, Speaker of the Sith'Makar." The whitescale announces, looking towards the inquisitrix. "And thank you. My youngling, on Vaera's lap, is 'Little Fang' in the People's tongue, but 'Lily' in trade."

Lily's name spoken aloud catches the kobold's attention, she stares first at her Ssassa, then at the softskin. She peers, squinting and leaning forward. She slowly pops a chicken tender in her mouth, staring at Mercy. She chews, slowly. Oh so slowly.

Cryo continues, "This one is unsure. I mean, I've eaten these, in Am'shere, it is not unusual. Here, where the dishes are unknown and prompt strange reactions when ordered, it's a strange dichotomy, repulsive yet so satisfying when devoured."

So prefaced, she takes a huge serving of tripe and tendons.

Lily tosses a half-eaten tender in an arc towards Pothy.

"It should not be hard to find these dishes, if I find any taverns or restaurants serving them, I will be sure to let you know about them." Vaera offers. "This is good yes, that your arm is healing. Make sure to massage the muscle, and move it when you can to stretch. If it was healed by magic, a lot of it is likely stiffness. Healing magic can work rapidly, but it's not good about specifics about the healing process sometimes."

Seeing the chicken tender tossed, she snatches it out of the air, tantalizingly out of reach of the raven, who she fixes with her gaze. She sets the piece of chicken on a clear spot on the table, keeping her eyes on the bird, until she taps a claw twice against the wood.

"You are a sailor? You should share some stories with Aryia some time." Vaera suggests. "Nothing wrong with not being not a paladin, as long as you are happy with what you are doing now. And it seems you managed fine if I hear correctly."

Venom nods to Aryia's 'words', and the slap on her shoulder. Her hands sign a quick, "Violet was probably not happy about that."

She turns back to the table proper, flashing her note to the palescale before she reaches under the poncho again, withdrawing a perviously scribed note of impeccable penmanship that reads simply:

Venom

Once satisfied everyone's had time to read it, she puts that note back.... wherever she keeps it, and she folds her hands on the table for now. <handspeech>

Pothy is overjoyed for one brief, cruel moment, until his salvation is literally snatched out of the air in front of him. He squawks in a very loud, indignant "MERP!" and looks like his whole world has been broken. Who would deny Pothy food like this? What horrible creature would do this to him? Pothy has never done anything wrong, /ever/, and doesn't deserve this treatment--

Pothy realizes the chicken is not being consumed. He locks eyes with Vaera. Then the chicken. Back to Vaera, back to the chicken, back to Vaera. "Oh, it's ON," he says, mimicking the voice of some sauced-up man as he _lunges_ for the chicken bit on the table.

The Off-Duty Inquisitress nods at Aryia. "Aryia then. Well met" she then bows her head to the other black clad one. "Venom." To Vaera she nods "I am told that my ... unorthodox... methods solutions and attitude do not fit well with the iron framework of a paladin's code. " then she blinks and returns to Aryia "Oh? You're a sailor too? I'm mostly sailed on the ships of my people but even those have a diverse crew. That side I'm never met a Mul'niessa sailor before. Well met again" She then EEPS loudly as the white raven lunges over her plate towards Vaera's hand.

Cryo devours her tendons and tripe. Whatever intellectual objections she has, these are overwhelmed by her instinctive need for *something* in the meat. It is chewed, swallowed, washed down with -some drink-, and then she continues more. It keeps her silent.

Lily meanwhile, stares at Vaera. That was her chicken tender to throw. As if to prove this, she throws another deliciously breaded, soaked in sauce, fried piece of chicken breast towards the white raven.

She'll show them!

Aryia flinches as her arm was smacked. It didn't hurt, of course, but the regret that blooms across her visage was genuine. A sigh leaves her, her deflating like a balloon. "... yes, I know she wouldn't be. I was going to talk with her about it later..." she mumble-signs. <Handspeech>

Her attention flicks back to Mercy, her sitting up in her seat and giving a sharp nod. She does some small scribbling in a book and shows it once to the inquisitor.

"I am an oddball to be a sailor. But I'm good to have on the boat at night. Sailed for about five years."

As a chimken tendie is tossed, the book is pulled back protectively. Then more food is flung. Some sauce gets in her moon colored hair. She just cleaned that! Now feathers were everywhere and-

Thinking smartly, Aryia sloooooowly sinks under the table to avoid the sauce-shed.

Mercy suddenly finds herself in the middle of a food fight! "Hey Hey this is dinner not... EEP" she takes hurried cut and bite of her roast red meat and nod belatedly to Cryo. "Well met Speaker Cryosanthia. Peace be upon your nest" She looks at Lily "and health and happiness to your little one." -- "Mercy is fine by the way but if you want titles it's Redeemer of the Order of the Radiant Sun." She goes back to trying to protect and eat her food under the spray of hot sauce.

Vaera lets out a puff of air, and snatches the second piece of poultry out of the air, before she pats lily on the head again. "I understand your desire to offer food to Pothy, Lily. But you need to be mindful when doing so. It may be alright to toss some to a raven, but what about a swiftclaw? You do not want them mistaking a finger near their jaw as a treat flung to them. So you should be mindful of how such things are associated.

So close, yet so far! the redscale snatches the piece away. Then moving away from the bird, she sets them back down on the table. And she stares, before removing her hand, and tapping the table twice again with a claw.

"Violet, yes, you should let her know. I have been hoping to meet them still, but you should smooth this over with them first."

Now there were too pieces waiting, should the raven manage to not jump the metaphorical gun.

There were only a few of those around, metaphorically.

"Whaaa? Noooo." Lily is confused. Something about flinging fingers at Swiftclaws. This is a bad idea. Swiftclaws love fingers.

"Like this Lily," Cryo takes one of the tenders sitting on the table and holds it out towards Pothy. He can try biting her fingers, just try. He might break his beak!

Pothy is absolutely destroyed. Not only has he been denied chimkin tendie from his beloved friend Lily, he's had it stolen and teased from him! He ruffles all of the pale feathers on his body, puffing up to look like an absolute unit of a corvid. "Give me the food or the--" Pothy begins to say, imitating some sort of sleazy voice, up until the moment Cryo holds the food out towards him. Finally, blessed salvation! A peace offer! This world has staved off the judgment of Pothy by one day.

The bird takes it gently from Cryo's hands and flaps quickly back to Ravenstongue's shoulder. No one will steal tendie from him. A hard lesson has been learned today: Pothy will remember this forever...

The early bird gets the worm.

Aryia pops back up from under the table slowly, her peering over with shimmery eyes to make sure the hot sauce flinging was finished. She gives a long sigh, shooting a glare to the bird before waving tot he large man at the entrance.

Sitting down properly now, she gives a little not to the redscale. "Yes I think... I'll speak with them later about it. I learned my lesson with it now."

Taking a liiiitle pleasure with Pothy getting a lesson, her mood perks up a bit. <Handspeech>

Venom remains still as the situation with chicken regaining it's ancestral flight, and the carnivorous ambitions of the corvid resolve themselves to some satisfaction.

Sometimes Chaos reacts to movement, after all.

She turns her attention to Aryia as she emerges, offering a hand up from there before signing with the other, "I think it's safe, now." before looking curiously over toward the door on the Mul'niessa's wave. <handspeech>

"Yes, just be gentle, Lily." Vaera notes, picking up the final piece of chimken, and tearing it into two. She offers the first to Pothy, and the second back to Little Fang.

"If you learned a lesson, it is not a wasted experience. Just take it to heart. I am sure Venom will be understanding of everything, as long as you are honest."

Pothy snatches the offered chimken eagerly and quickly. Early bird gets the worm. He quietly eats his food from Ravenstongue's shoulder, truly humbled by the lesson learned tonight.

Ravenstongue finally just snickers at her silly raven, patting him on the head. "There we go. Muuuuch calmer."

Stjepan steps carefully into the room, and heads to the bar. He orders a plate of food, and a nice drink in a stable glass. Nothing that jostles too easily.

Cryo crunches away at her bones. This seems to be helping, she appears more relaxed. The loud popping noises as she grinds her teeth on the pieces is a little disturbing. She attempts to keep it between question and response.

Mercy quietly devours her meat and citrus.

Aryia takes the offered hand, her holding the gloved hand all the way up to her chair. She releases it, her giving a nudge to Venom on the arm before watching the calmed scene. It was relaxing. If only she had a shoulder to rest her head on.

Knocking that thought out of her head, she scribbles something down and shows it to Cryo.

"Where can I find you later?"

Venom lightly returns the bump in kind, seemingly mollified that the chaos seems to have been properly fed and watered. She retrieves her writing implements and looks about the table as the pen hovers in her hand.

Writer's block could be a problem.

Mercy finishes her dinner rather adroitly. It's almost as if she's eaten in worse conditions than a food fight. She stands up and bows to everyone flourishing her hat again. "It was a pleasure to meet you all and wish you well." Putting the hat on her head and swirling her dragon embroidered cape as she turns, she strides boldly out into the street.

This one will be here, Cryosanthia writes on Aryia's note, and hands it back.

She takes up a bowl of strange coloured fluid and drinks it. She checks on Lily, automatically, the sight of her youngling making her relax.

Things are ok, things are ok. She tells herself. No nest, no matter. No mate, not matter. Everything is just fine.

Stjepan sips his drink, and surveys the room, relaxing visibly. Now, it's time to wait for the food to arrive.

Pothy looks... Tired? Yes, it seems raven familiars can be tired. Or at least, Pothy can. He even makes a sound like a yawning old man from his spot on Ravenstongue's shoulder.

The half-elf snickers a little as she rises from her spot at the table. "I suppose that's my cue to get going, too. Thank you all for a nice evening," she says. She even spots Stjepan--it's not /hard/ to spot him--and waves to him, before leaving the noise and chaos of the TarRaCe.

Which is to say, the TarRaCe is now liberated from the menace of Pothy.

"It may cause a bit of a stir here, but this one should show you the firearm this one made another time, Lily. With Cryosanthia's permission of course. But they are not toys." The red makari offers, looking back over to Cryosanthia. She waves to t

Vaera waves to the inquisitor before she leaves. "Take care Mercy, but it was good to meet you."

Then she turns her attention back to the kobold in her lap. "It may cause a bit of a stir here, but this one should show you the firearm this one made another time, Lily. With Cryosanthia's permission of course. They are not toys, but you may find the mechanisms interesting." The red makari offers, looking back over to Cryosanthia, placing a hand on her shoulder for a moment.

"I have heard how nearly everyone else is doing here, but what of yourself, Venom? Have their been any new developments, or things that you have been happy about?"

Aryia reads over the note, her nodding and shutting the book. She gives a little thumbs up to the palescale before glancing over to Venom's writer's block. Her own pen cuts through such deliberations, her scribbling down a simple:

:)

Before capping her pen and waving to the two that depart. A relaxed sigh leaves her. Thank goodness. Her food was safe. And no more sauce flinging.

She does look curious of Venom's ongoings.

"This one..." Cryosanthia starts to say, then reconsiders. Owning a firearm did not get her killed by a demon, and not owning one didn't save her from one. "Lily would enjoy that. We may have something to show you as well."

The palescale is looking a little tired, and full. She seems to have finished her esoteric order. She stands, then takes a cloth, and cleans Lily and Lily's hands as best she can before hoisting the youngling up. She dips her head to all present. "This one has had a wonderful time. We need to walk some, then sleep more. We shall be about the establishment."

Explanation given, the whitescale makes to depart.

Stjepan digs into his meal, up at the bar. Apparently, he just wanted some food!

Venom offers polite waves to the two as they depart in turns, but isn't certain either one understands the signs, so she doesn't offer any more lengthy valedictions.

the question from Vaera snares her attention for a moment, and notes, "The temple districts seem to he closed off for some reason, but no one seems to know why."

She looks to the mother and child, repeating her little wave, but, as Lily had used a sign earlier, offers, "Be well." in time for them to depart.

There's a glance at the big man, then back to her notepad.

A pause.

(:

Then, a lengthier note, one that reads:

Roasted fish and vegetables of some kind, and a cup of roundleaf, please.

"Then I will look forward to what you may have to show." Vaera chuffs, giving Lily a parting hug before helping her back into Cryosanthia's arms, and waving them off. "I would be happy to show them. If you get light headed on your walk, do not hesitate to find some place to sit down a moment."

The explanation from Venom gets a brow raised, though. "The temple district is closed off? That is strange, the area is always open. This sounds concerning."

Aryia glances to the note, the small scribble smile making one appear on her own lips. Though,t he news makes Aryia's brows pinch. Then furrow. Then she deeply inhales, and slowly sighs.

"... it's probably more demon shit, if I'm going to be honest," she complains, running a hand down her face and sinking into her chair. "Tired of that crap." <Handspeech>

Venom nods, her hands coming together and she signs, "Probably."

She looks to Aryia as she reaches out to bump her shoulder with a knuckle.

She looks to Vaera, then and she signs a more elaborate question, "I was going to take this up to the bar. Does anyone else want anything while I'm putting this in?" <handspeech>

Stjepan chows down on his stew, up at the bar. He apparently had chosen his meal to be raven-resistant.

"Ah. I would not mind an order for one of the roasted meat platters here." Vaera responds with a nod to Venom. "Thank you for offering, I will pay when it gets here."

Then she turns to Aryia, and chuffs. "It may be, and it would be tiring by the sounds of it. But you are strong, and will get through it. But making sure you help others to get through it is equally important."

Aryia shakes her head at Venom's offer, the slight smile solidifying at the knuckle bump to her arm. She gives a small sigh to Vaera, and nods slowly. "Yes, I am trying to do just that."

It's a... complicated matter.

She does, however, spy Stjepan's food, and tilts her head to the side. Some gears in her head turn, and she gives a small smirk to herself. Clever. Anti-Pothy tactics. <Handspeech>

Venom nods to Vaera, writing 'roasted meat platter' under her previous request, then nods and shoots a thumbs-up to the Sith's reassurances.

With a look to Aryia as she replies to Vaera, she rises to her feet and lightly touches the Mul'niessa's shoulder before taking her note on up to the bar.

She waves a little to the large man if he looks at her, then tries to flag down the bartender.

"Well, keep trying. If you ever need any help or support, let me know." Vaera offers. "My, care is for Mictlan first, but that does not mean the city is to be ignored entirely."

She waves to Venom, before she pulls off her coat, and uses a cloth to wipe off most of the sauce.

"And those temples seem to help a lot of people in the city."

Stjepan waves to Venom, then goes back to his dinner.

Aryia takes some solace with the touch to her shoulder. She glances up, past the veils, the tinge of worry that comes around when the topic arises bleeding away. A soft sigh leaves her, and she simply nods.

Thanks, she says with just a look.

The shadow elf gives a small nod to Vaera. "They do. I don't go to them very often unless I'm visiting a friend." <Handspeech>

Venom spends a few moments on that bartender, leaving the fellow to his meal. There's a point to Vaera and a tap to a part of her note, then a pause, and she hastily scribbles something else.

She gives a thumbs-up, and the veiled woman seps bac toward the table.

The veiled woman settles into her seat again and starts to sign, "That should be here in a few minutes." <handspeech>

"No rush, Venom, I do not have places to be at this point." Vaera chuffs. With the area more cleared, she pulls her stool closer to the table. "So, your arm, I do not want to push the issue more. But rather, I wanted to offer congratularions. If you are moving on to more difficult magics, that means you have made a lot of progress with the more basic ones, yes? This is good."

Aryia looks like she was ready to stop any criticism in its tracks, but her hand halts halfway as the criticism turns into praise. Her face twitches between a grin and a bashful smile, so it ends up lopsided with her rubbing her neck.

"Yes. I... wouldn't consider it magic. It's something else, it feels like." <Handspeech>

Venom turns back toward Aryia as the arm comes up again, and she watches for the woman's reply and she reaches out for a gentle shoulder bump, "You're doing very well in your training." she assures her.

She glance back to Vaera, then, wondering if she'll have another question. <handspech>

"Well, magic or not, you need to keep at your training, like Venom is saying. And you did not deny that your understanding of the magic is going better." Vaera notes, reaching over to bump one of Aryia's arms herself. "My food should be here shortly. If you do not mind, I may stay here to eat. Unless you would rather have the time to catch up with your friend Venom with no one else around, which I would not fault."

Aryia gives a warm smile, her returning the prod with one of her own along with a nod of appreciation. Her face tinges a bit red at Vaera's meaning, but she shakes her head. "It's fine. I think some calm after all of that would be good for us all."

She glances between Venom and Vaera before starting, "So... Vaera, what's your favorite color?"

Finally. Some peace and quiet at the table. No chimken tendies flung, no loud birds, and no prowling inquisitors. <Handspeech>

The Coffee Roasters
https://www.deviantart.com/the-sixthleafclover/art/The-Coffee-Roasters-632951392